Retired educator Sheila Neely-Norman stands in the Clarke Central High School Media Center courtyard on Feb. 4. While working in classrooms at the University Hospital, in Augusta, Ga., Neely-Norman found a passion for teaching. “My first job (as a teacher) was at Barrow Elementary School in kindergarten and I taught there for two years. My principal was moved to Barnett Shoals Elementary, and back then, princiapls could take two teachers with them,” Neely-Norman said. “I was the kindergarten teacher that opened up the first (ever) kindergarten class at Barnett Shoals.” Photo by Wyatt Meyer
Sheila Neely-Norman, a retired educator, shares her experience being active in Athens from teaching to being involved with the University of Georgia.
Journalism I student Lucca Fleenor: I understand that you’re a retired educator. Can you talk a little bit about what you used to do?
Retired educator Sheila Neely-Norman:My bachelor’s degree was in sociology. I’m a Paine College graduate from (Augusta,Georgia) and that’s (a Historically Black College and University), and my master’s with the University of Georgia in Early Childhood Education, and my specialist is in (Early Childhood Care and Education) from Troy University. I thought I wanted to be a social worker (when I started out). I had several internships at the University Hospital, (now called Piedmont Hospital) in Augusta, one with families with children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. (I) found out I couldn’t handle that, and this was my senior year. (I couldn’t) tell my parents that I no longer wanted to be a social worker, so my first job was with HeadStart. I did that for two years, and working in the classrooms, I found out I really liked working with children. So, I left after two years, and I worked with Action Incorporated as a Child Development Coordinator. (Then), I started teaching. My first job was at Barrow Elementary School (as a kindergarten teacher) and I taught there for two years. My principal was moved to (Barnett Shoals Elementary School), and back then, the principal could take two teachers with them. I was the kindergarten teacher that opened up the first kindergarten class at Barnett Shoals. And I did two years at Barrow, and (then I taught) 31 (years) at Barnett Shoals as a regular kindergarten teacher.
LF: I understand you had a lot of different pathways you were looking into but why did you ultimately decide to go into teaching??
SNN: I guess (it was) a love for children and (that) I felt that I had something to offer them. I felt that I could pull it out of me, if it could be pulled out I could pull it out, and I think I was very successful (because most) of my students have been very successful. (They are now) doctors and nurses and teachers.. So, I feel I did something (to help).
LF: How were you impacted from all the teaching you did?
Retired educator Sheila Neely-Norman sits on a bench outside of the Clarke Central High School Ceremonial Entrance on Feb. 4. Neely-Norman has been influential throughout the Athens community and her career in teaching at Barnett Shoals and Barrow Elementary made one of the strongest impacts on her. “(You) can see the future in most students when you’re teaching them, and I always felt that there was a light in every child that I needed to brighten,” Neely-Norman said. Photo by Wyatt Meyer
SNN: I got a chance to meet a lot of families (and make) a lot of lifetime friendships. Then the reward is seeing my students years later, and they come up to me and they go, ‘Mrs. Neely-Norman I’m doing such and such now. Are you proud of me?’ You can see the future in most of these students when you’re teaching them, and I always felt that there was a light in every child that I needed to brighten. There was something there. My reward the first day that (my students could read) a complete sentence. Because that was my thing back then. They weren’t teaching reading in kindergarten. So, a friend of mine and I, Jan Leneer, we were coworkers, we always combined our classes and had different groups. I would teach the reading and she would (teach) the math and whatever along with our (paraprofessionals). So, to hear a child do that, read that sentence for the first time – and my goal was to get them reading before Christmas – it was just so rewarding.
LF: I saw that you’ve had a few interviews with UGA.Could you tell me about how you were involved with the University of Georgia?
SNN: I have been one of the advisors for the Sorority Delta Sigma Theta, and I’ve been an advisor there for 45 years. I had finished college about four or five years when I first started interning (and) training under another advisor. Then, I became (an) advisor. One of the young ladies in the chapter finished, came back and started training as an advisor. I was her advisor, and now she is a primary advisor and I’m a secondary advisor. I’m still there and I’m not planning on being there too much longer. (We) just celebrated the 55th anniversary (of the sorority). And so many young ladies that were in my first group, I’ve actually had five young ladies come through and I was their mom’s advisor, so it’s time for me to (move) on.
A map depicting former positions of work and places of education for Sheila Neely-Norman is shown . Although Sheila Neely-Norman had her education all over Georgia, she ended up being mostly active in groups that supported Athens in her later years. “I just love being a part of groups that are active in the community (of Athens) and I guess that’s why I’m active in (so many).” Neely-Norman said. Map by Lucca Fleenor
LF: What places have you seen yourself being active in the community?
SNN: I just love being a part of groups that are active in the community and I guess that’s why I’m active in, I started the Athens Community Agenda, and the purpose of that was to educate our community on what things were going on in the community and what we needed to do to, to combat the problems or help meet the problems before they get to a level that we can’t do anything about them. And, I come back to my sorority, the Athens alumni chapter. We do a step show here every year when I’ll have a new chapter coming in. And also at the university, I won the Source Advisor of the Year Award (in 2015) because of my commitment to the community.I just love being a part of groups that are active in the community and I guess that’s why I’m active in, I started the Athens Community Agenda, and the purpose of that was to educate our community on what things were going on in the community and what we needed to do to, to combat the problems or help meet the problems before they get to a level that we can’t do anything about them. And, I come back to my sorority, the Athens alumni chapter. We do a step show here every year when I’ll have a new chapter coming in. And also at the university, I won the Source Advisor of the Year Award in 2015 because of my commitment to the community.
I’m a little girl from the east side, and (seeing) that it doesn’t matter where you come from when you are committed, anything is possible if you believe. I think that’s it, that’d be the message (I try to send).
LF: How do you think you’ve impacted the community of Athens?
SNN: I think I have inspired a lot of young people to seek better in themselves. I impacted the community with doing a lot of voter registration and registering a lot of people. I’m a little girl from the east side, and (seeing) that it doesn’t matter where you come from when you are committed, anything is possible if you believe. I think that’s it, that’d be the message (I try to send).
