Introduction to Gratitude Tour: Shirley Underwood

Within the spring of 1979, I accomplished my closing semester on the College of Tennessee. To earn my diploma in Secondary English Training, I needed to scholar educate. I don’t recall having any selection in the place that may occur so I should have been assigned to Carter Excessive Faculty within the Knox County faculty system. I used to be incomes that diploma in schooling as a fallback plan. I nonetheless at that time had aspirations of changing into a sports activities journalist.

I, after all, had been a scholar for a few years, so I knew my approach round a classroom. I had a number of outstanding academics through the years and had fond reminiscences of how they managed school rooms, taught numerous ideas and made college students be ok with themselves. Now, I used to be anticipated to do these issues. I used to be nervous. Mix that with the truth that my coronary heart wasn’t actually in it, and it might have been disastrous.

However then Shirley Underwood occurred. Shirley was the Chair of the English division at Carter in 1979. I had been assigned to her senior English class. On my first day, I watched Shirley educate her class. She was energetic. She was humorous. All however a number of of her college students appeared to be hanging on her each phrase. The 2 or three who weren’t have been quickly requested simple inquiries to carry their consideration again to the lesson. She paced about her classroom like a lion tamer cracking her whip in ways in which gave every scholar an opportunity to carry out. What her college students didn’t notice was that Shirley was performing, too. Her perform was to make them the celebrities of the present, they usually liked it. They liked her. She liked them again.

What the heck had I simply witnessed? It wasn’t sufficient to promote me on changing into a trainer, not but, however she definitely obtained my consideration on that first day simply as she masterfully maintained the main target of her college students. It was going to be a enjoyable time, it doesn’t matter what I made a decision. By the tip of that semester, because of Shirley’s function modeling and encouragement, I had made what would change into a life-changing determination. I wished what Shirley had every day in that classroom. I wished to be a trainer.

Shirley left Carter on the finish of that college 12 months to change into assistant principal at Powell Excessive Faculty in Knox County. That would go away a educating place open at Carter, and Shirley thought I ought to have it. Not solely highschool college students listened to Shirley but in addition directors. I had my first educating place in my pocket even earlier than I had accomplished my scholar educating.

By means of social media, Shirley and I stayed in contact on and off over the following forty-six years. I knew she had change into an assistant to the superintendent of colleges in Knox County, and I knew that her beloved husband Stanley, whom I had met in 1979, had handed away. After I retired from educating on June 30, 2025, I additionally knew the primary individual I wanted to thank for my rewarding profession.

Shirley and I met in Knoxville simply twenty days later. I hadn’t seen her in individual since 1979. It was a surreal, joyous second I’ll always remember. We hugged. I couldn’t cease hugging her. The tears flowed. I used to be within the precise firm of an incredible lady who had given me the encouragement to embark on a profession in schooling.

As talked about in my introduction, I used to be impressed by Chick Donohue, who delivered beer to his buddies in Vietnam as a symbolic gesture of his gratitude. I used to be nicely conscious that beer may not be the beverage of selection or the suitable beverage for the situation of our go to with these I’d thank on my gratitude tour. Shirley and I have been on the Pantera Bread on Kingston Pike at 11 am on a Sunday morning. Although she advised me my gesture was not mandatory, she lastly gave in and mentioned she’d have a flavored tea. Two issues went incorrect with my plan. First, Shirley is a member of Panera Bread’s Sippy Membership so her beverage was going to be on the home already. Second, when selecting up our drinks, I accidently switched them in order that she discovered herself sipping on my ginger ale whereas I took an enormous gulp of her tea. It was our first huge chortle of the day, and we determined to not change the drinks again to their rightful sippers. Properly, Mr. Donohue, I used to be clearly going to must get higher at this!

Three hours glided by with our hardly noticing. We laughed quite a bit. We cried. We reminisced about our mutual careers, and he or she advised me what had impressed me essentially the most about my scholar educating. Her technique with college students who could possibly be a distraction to themselves and to others was to unfold them all through a classroom in hopes that may isolate them and subsequently make them much less more likely to act up since they’d be round college students who have been paying consideration. Instinctively, apparently, I employed a unique technique. As I obtained to know the scholars throughout my first few days, I moved the handful of scholars who couldn’t focus too nicely to seats that have been close to each other and to me. Think about a lion tamer transferring the entire growling lions to perches that have been closest to him/her. It was a technique that labored for me and would proceed to work for me over the course of my profession. Shirly had thought it was sensible and was one in every of many indications that I had a pure knack for managing a classroom.

Shirley is a rustic lady at coronary heart, having grown up within the mountainous space of higher East Tennessee. Not like me, she knew she wished to be a trainer even earlier than she started elementary faculty. “I by no means dreamed of every other profession.”

She first attended Berea School in Kentucky, then transferred to East Tennessee State the place she earned her BS in English. Finally, she would earn an M.S. in English, Curriculum and Instruction, and Administration and Supervision on the College of Tennessee in Knoxville. Shirley has been a lifelong learner (many nice academics are) so it’s no shock that she additionally earned a certificates in Appalachian Research from a Berea School/College of Kentucky collaborative program. As not too long ago as 2025, she took an AI course on the College of Tennessee.

Her profession started at Washington School Academy in Limestone, TN. She taught English and was the Dean of Women. Even at that early age, she proved she might take cost of issues past a classroom. It was throughout her second 12 months there that she met Stanley Underwood. He had been employed over the Christmas break to take the place of the assistant dean of boys and social research trainer who had been drafted into navy service. He repeatedly shared his model of the assembly by way of the years. “I used to be within the trainer’s lounge assembly my new colleagues. The door swung open and in prissed this little sprite in her three-inch heels. She marched straight to me, caught out her hand, and mentioned, ‘Hiya. My identify is Shirley Collins. I’m senior dean, and you might be on responsibility this weekend.’” He generally added the be aware, “From that second, I used to be smitten.”

By February, the primary actual off-campus date was scheduled; by mid-March, Stanley had proposed; in July, they have been married. In Stanley’s obituary fifty-three years later, their niece mentioned of Stanley, “…he launched into a lifelong journey to indicate the world what real love actually appears to be like like and succeeded past phrases.…everybody who ever met them or heard him speak about Shirley knew they have been within the presence of ‘magic.’ Their love story won’t ever finish.” Shirley provides, “I by no means noticed a wedding I envied.” Although they every had busy private {and professional} lives, their time collectively was what they loved most.

As soon as married, they moved to Knoxville. She then taught English at Gibbs Excessive Faculty in Knox County, TN. Not surprisingly, she would quickly additionally change into the Division Chair. Carter Excessive Faculty was her subsequent cease the place she as soon as once more taught English and served as Division Chair. I suppose we are able to say that destiny introduced us collectively at that time.

As efficient and essential as she had been within the classroom, she then moved to Powell Excessive Faculty in Knox County, TN, to function Assistant Principal. She was nonetheless Shirley and nonetheless having an influence on younger folks, however she was now turning her consideration to supporting adults within the academic discipline as nicely.

She accomplished her profession in schooling within the Knox County Faculties District Workplace, first as Supervisor and Assistant to Director of Curriculum and Instruction, then, as already talked about, Assistant to the Superintendent. By now, it needs to be evident that Shirley was way more than simply an assistant. Mr. Morgan usually relied on Shirley (and Shirley fortunately obliged) to resolve many points that arose throughout his tenure. In 1996, Shirley acquired the nationwide Excellence in Training Award. She was one in every of solely twenty-three directors throughout the nation to earn that recognition. She clearly taught adults in addition to she taught younger folks!

The record of all of the methods she contributed to the development of schooling after leaving the classroom is intensive. Listed below are only a few of the methods during which she continued to have an effect even past Knoxville:

Tennessee Division of Training, Nashville, TN—Exemplary Training Program, numerous districts and faculties in Tennessee;
Tennessee Division of Training and Vanderbilt College, Nashville, TN—Coach for Institute of Faculty Leaders;
Assume Hyperlink Studying (later Discovery Training) Nashville, TN—Coach in
quite a few districts and faculties in lots of states;
College of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN — Lead Facilitator, VOLS (Volunteers On-line Management Research), a faculty administrator coaching program.

Shirley gave fifty-five years to the sphere of schooling, however, truthfully, as I found throughout our three-hour assembly on July 20, 2025, and the quite a few emails we’ve exchanged since, she’s nonetheless an educator. I can’t clarify why any higher than she does. “My spark has at all times been desirous to share the efforts of my arms, coronary heart, and thoughts with others—college students,
academics, mates, household…nearly everybody I’ve met. The sensation (or possibly information) that I might assist ignite in others an enthusiasm for studying and for changing into higher folks has been my driving pressure.”

My purpose is to acknowledge the essential function that educators play in our lives, to have fun educators, and I’ve began with celebrating the essential mentors, colleagues and college students in my profession. After I requested Shirley whom she would go to on her personal gratitude tour, she had a tough time narrowing the record.

“After I consider my life and my profession, there are such a lot of to whom I owe appreciation. I hardly know the place to start. This query has kindled many fond reminiscences and nice emotion.”

DAD — an outstanding trainer with no formal coaching. He instilled in me the assumption that “if it’s price doing, it’s price doing nicely” and inspired me to be taught something I might anytime I might;

EMMA RUTH WOOLSEY— a pal and neighbor who at all times inspired me and who had confidence in my skills;

JACKIE MULLINS—a seventh-grade trainer who taught me that every one studying had worth and warranted me I might do (and be) something I wished;

DAVID WETZEL—a principal at Carter Excessive who demonstrated the worth of not doing issues as they’ve at all times been achieved. His ability as a trainer and his passionate drive to “get the job achieved” motivated me;

ALLEN MORGAN—a principal at Powell Excessive and later Superintendent of

Knox County Faculties who taught me greater than I can presumably enumerate: find out how to construct a superb group by valuing the contributions of everybody; the worth of win-win’s in practically all conditions; that true management comes from modeling (by no means anticipate others to do what you might be unwilling to do); to provide credit score to others each probability you’ve; to like, honor, encourage, encourage and reward your self, your loved ones, your college students and colleagues;

NORMA MERTZ—a College of Tennessee professor and dean who taught me the worth of highly effective questioning and evaluative reflection, the awesomeness of range, and that information and expertise are important for progress;

STANLEY UNDERWOOD—my husband who offered never-ending encouragement and the monetary and emotional safety to take dangers for the sake of scholars, faculties, and my profession. His humor and his love obtained me by way of the tough instances and impressed me day by day of his life.

To fully seize Shirley Underwood’s essence can be a futile train. Throughout my three hours together with her at Panera Bread, I used to be reminded of her playfulness, her pleasure, her deep love for Stanley, her willingness to supply an opinion on any subject. She took her alternatives to show others very critically, however she has by no means taken herself too critically. She’s that individual you need at your occasion each bit as a lot as you need her to show your baby. In all these fifty-five years, she by no means involved herself with how she may be placing the highlight on herself as she put the highlight on her college students and colleagues. When requested what she thought of her most notable success, she couldn’t even think about I used to be asking about recognitions she garnered through the years. As an alternative, she replied, “seeing my college students accomplish nice issues personally and professionally.”

After all, Shirley confronted challenges through the years, however she noticed them as alternatives. She handled them whereas doing her job. Although irritating, setbacks have been short-term and in the end resulted in a greater factor. She had realized from inspiring mentors to at all times search for the win-win. Greater than any side of any topic we’d educate, that is what our college students want to listen to. That is a part of the magic I witnessed within the spring of 1979. I couldn’t have requested for a greater function mannequin.

When she considers the challenges that educators face at this time, it’s the identical as society’s problem. In a world during which one would assume our developments are making life simpler, simply the other appears to be occurring. Is it even correct to name them developments? Younger folks and even younger educators lack coping abilities and sound psychological well being. Society can’t anticipate educators to fulfill these challenges alone. I believe we might all be taught a factor or two from Shirley’s playfulness, the glint in her eyes, her pleasure, her not taking herself too critically, and particularly the honest love she feels for others.

​The next are excerpts from a chat that Shirley, on the request of the Sullivan County Faculty Superintendent, gave in 2008 to a bunch of academics who have been in want of inspiration. She contains not solely her personal knowledge however knowledge from others.
Why do I educate? How might I not? Educating is who I’m—at all times: with college students in faculties,
adults in periods like this, in interacting with nieces and nephews whom I like past what phrases can say. Educating is important, significant work and includes what makes us
human. It’s about our arms (exhausting work), our head (information, what we all know, what we assist others know), and particularly our coronary heart (the humanity of educating, the fervour we carry to assist others dream and work towards the success of their desires).

I consider that good academics work exhausting and that nice academics encourage and encourage. They make a distinction within the lives of kids. The good academics know {that a} passing remark will be the very message that evokes a toddler and units him in pursuit of a ability, an idea or perhaps a dream. It’s that particular person connection that makes educating (and nice academics) an nearly divine expertise. We make a distinction one baby at a time.

I consider academics have nice energy, generally unrealized, however an influence that we faucet in these magical moments when the celebrities are aligned and studying happens on account of us. Maybe Ham Ginott mentioned it greatest: “I’ve come to a daunting conclusion that I’m the decisive factor within the classroom. It’s my private method that creates the local weather. It’s my every day temper that makes the climate. As a trainer, I possess an amazing energy to make a toddler’s life depressing or joyous. I generally is a software to torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, harm or heal. In all conditions, it’s my response that decides whether or not a disaster might be escalated or de-escalated and a toddler humanized or de-humanized.”

I consider that all the things is relative—with our college students, with every of us. On this room, there are those that carry nice burdens of non-public ache and struggling and there are these whose load is gentle. Within the classroom, the identical is true. By no means assume we all know what weights these younger folks carry to us. Simply take into account this letter from a university scholar to her mother and father, shared with us by Richard C. Russman and John D. Hatfield.

​
Right here’s an excerpt from Judy Morasci’s “Academics are America,” modified barely by Shirley Underwood and Dan Dunsmore.

“What’s it that our children actually need? What do they really need? Math, science, historical past and social research are essential, however kids want love, confidence, encouragement, somebody to speak to, somebody to pay attention, requirements to stay by. Academics present upright examples, the religion and assurance of accountable folks. Academics try to seek out the most effective of their college students, even the place some see little hope. No different career bestows a finer reward than educating—reaching out to the sensible and the not so sensible, the gifted and the not so gifted. Academics, you allow the world just a little bit higher than you discovered it. You probably have redeemed only one life, you’ve achieved life’s work.”

Why do you educate? Assume of a kid, a particular baby. Put a face, a coronary heart and
head to each lesson, each class, each considered why you educate. Articulate why you educate. Share it with the world. Share your ardour. Nice academics know and follow giving from the pinnacle, with our arms, and with our coronary heart. Why do I educate? I educate as a result of I like it. I stay it. I breathe it. And my life is blessed as a result of all of that is so.