Sheila Shotts to retire after 50 years with Martinsville Elementary

MARTINSVILLE, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — At the end of the school year Sheila Shotts, a teacher at Martinsville Elementary, is going to retire after 50 years of molding young minds.

In this time, Shotts has been making an impact on everyone that has been around her at Martinsville Elementary. Principal Sheri Cooper had her as a teacher in third grade and wanted her daughter to experience the same thing.

“My daughter was fortunate enough to have her as a teacher as well, and every day she made her feel like she was a rock star, one in a million, and as a parent, that is an important and special thing when your kid comes home feeling so special and confident from her teacher,” she said.

Many other teachers within the elementary school were taught by Shotts and they all said that she was a major part in getting them into the profession

“She always made it look so fun with how she cared for everyone and made everyone feel so special. She is definitely someone everyone looks up to and wants to be like,” said first grade teacher, Natalie Young.

Superintendent Bob Wagner said that along with being an excellent educator, her ability to truly care for students is second to none.

“True belief in students and their ability to succeed and believe in them without any limitations along with her genuine care for their success goes beyond anything else that she does,” Wagner said.

For Shotts, every day was a new adventure.

“I love that every day you get some kind of wonderful comment or smile that makes you feel better,” said Shotts. “I love it when I have students that come back and tell me something that they remembered that I taught them.”

She said that there is nothing that she would change about her journey at Martinsville Elementary.

“I can’t think about what else I would have done with my life,” she said. “It is the best job in the world for me, at least.”

Shotts said that she is unsure on what life holds for her after this school year, but she said that it will most likely involve children.

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