Shawna helps children realize success comes from effort

Thank you all for supporting the New Leaders Giving Tuesday Campaign. Your contribution supports Shawna, an elementary school principal in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Shawna attended urban school districts while growing up and considers her success to be the outcome of teachers who cared about her throughout that time. As a result, Shawna believes that all children have that same ability to learn, and is committed to being the agent of change who ensures the success of her students.

Shawna has 12 years of experience as an educator and most recently served as fifth grade reading and language arts instructor at a different elementary school in Prince George’s County. During her tenure there, Shawna’s students’ scores consistently improved each year, with over 80 percent passing and the majority of students receiving ‘advanced’ marks. Shawna also served as a teacher for children of military families, during which time she brought her students’ reading and writing skills above grade level — enabling them to send personally written letters to their parents and soldiers serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

With a strong desire to inspire her students to believe in their own abilities and achieve their dreams, Shawna says: “My greatest motivation is when a child realizes that his or her success is a result of their effort. Hence, they can achieve any goal that they set their minds to. At that very moment, all doubt is erased and the path to limitless success begins.”

Thank you all for supporting Shawna and New Leaders!