BY KRIS LEONHARDT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
GREEN BAY – The Greater Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce recently surprised its 2024 Golden Apple recipients in their classrooms. The local teachers were recognized in the areas of professionalism, leadership and innovation.
Leading up to the April recognition event, the Press Times is highlighting these eight honorees.
Hemlock Creek Elementary School Teacher Carly Shier’s path to education was not a traditional one.
The West De Pere School District elementary special education educator studied human development at UW-Green Bay before entering the career world.
“I worked in a related field after college, and I honestly hadn’t considered teaching as a career option. After a few years, I came upon an opportunity to enter education. The more I looked into it, the more I realized that teaching special education completely fit my skill set. I had always enjoyed and excelled at working with children and advocating for accessibility,” she recalled.
Shier said that one of her favorite things about being an educator is the relationships she is able to form with her students.
“I’m fortunate to work with a smaller number of students than a classroom teacher, so I’m able to spend more time one-on-one and in small groups. The majority of my students are kindergarteners and first graders, and I love having fun and being silly with them,” she said.
“They are still figuring out what ‘going to school’ means, and I enjoy being able to contribute to that notion by providing a fun, safe place for them to learn. Exchanging communication throughout the day like a smile across the hall or a silly face when something funny happens makes my day so enjoyable. Those little things truly are the biggest.”
While Shier serves an important role in the lives of her students, she is quick to point out that she cannot do it alone and often relies on those with first-hand experience to guide her.
“One of the most important things about being an educator is recognizing the importance of collaborating with and learning from other people,” she said. “I acknowledge that I don’t have all the answers and put so much value into hearing other people’s perspectives.
“I also try to prioritize seeking out information from and listening to the voices of disabled people to guide my decision-making within the special education field.”