“Helping find that one book for a child that will hook them is the best part of my job,” she said. “I feel like I’m a team member here to help children read. All it takes is that one special book that can capture a kid’s interest. Every child at this school is an active reader and is part of the Accelerated Reader program.”
Besides her students, Shepherd is most proud of her school’s media center, which had to be started from scratch about 13 years ago when Whitesville Road was converted from a middle school to an elementary school.
Since then, the school has steadily boosted its book collection to roughly 9,000 volumes with the help of various grants and school system funding.
“The books that these kids read have really come a long way since when I first started in education,” Shepherd said. “The illustrations and writing styles are more efficient at hooking kids. It’s really something else.”
Though the library is her primary responsibility, Shepherd’s job requires her to be a jack of all trades. Every day has new challenges.
“It’s a lot different than being a teacher, although to be a media specialist is also a teacher,” she said. “Here in the media center, we all wear many different hats.”
Shepherd’s duties include troubleshooting technical problems in classes with computer access, technology training for teachers and students, and assisting in obtaining grants for the school from outside agencies.
Shepherd began her career as an elementary school teacher in Fulton County. At one point, she left education for 10 years to help her pharmacist-husband, H.R. Shepherd, in his business, LaGrange Pharmacy.
“I really missed working with kids during that time and finally decided look for another job in education,” she said.
In 1985, Shepherd heard about a media specialist opening and accepted a position at West Side Junior High.
She worked there for five years before moving to Berta Weathersbee Elementary School, then going to the current Whitesville Road Elementary 17 years ago.
“It was a middle school when I first got here,” Shepherd recalled. “After a few years of that, I realized I like elementary school more be-cause you get the chance to inspire children at such a young age.”
As she nears retirement, Shepherd has no specific plans of yet.
“I’m just going to enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle,” she said.
That’s likely to include more time with her three adult children and five grandchildren.
Replacing Shepherd won’t be easy, assistant principal Victoria Walker said.
“She will be deeply missed by her peers, students and the administrative staff,” Walker said. “She has done an exceptional job during her time here at Whitesville Road Elementary. So far, we don’t have anyone to fill her position.”
Kenneth Thompson can be reached at kethompson@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228.
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