Iredell-Statesville Schools School & Family Magazine October 2016 | Page 9

Awesome Alumni As a child attending Harmony Elementary, Shannon Southerland would come home from school every day and teach her baby dolls everything she had learned in school that day. She credits her parents Sandra and James Campbell for believing in her and instilling in her that education was the key to a successful and fulfilling life. Shannon also received opportunities for leadership from First Baptist Church in Harmony, North Carolina where she said “Adults took serious their roles in modeling what was right for all kids who attended the church.” After graduating from North Iredell High School in 1987, Shannon attended UNC- Chapel Hill, graduating in 1991 with a B.A. in both Mathematics and African Studies. Returning to Statesville to teach math at South Iredell High School in 1992 might have been due to the influence of a favorite teacher, Mrs. Leola T. Harris. “Mrs. Harris taught Mathematics at North Iredell High School and encouraged me to pursue a math degree,” said Shannon. “She gave me a strong foundation in college placement classes and had high expectations for all students. Mrs. Harris was concerned about students’ overall well-being and pushed us to believe that it doesn’t matter where you Shannon Southerland came from, but where you were headed.” Shannon returned to university life, graduating from North Carolina Central University in 1995 with an M.A. in Educational Administration and Supervision and became an Assistant Principal by 1996 in Wake County. Moving to Hoke County Schools in 1999, Shannon held several administrative positions until becoming Principal of Upchurch Elementary in June of 2009, where she is described as a strategic leader who promotes excellence and sets high expectations for all. This North Iredell graduate has very high expectations for herself as she was awarded the prestigious Principal of the Year for Hoke County, 2016-17. Iredell-Statesville Schools are proud of this awesome alumnus, who is amazed by “God’s creation…from the enormous beauty at our fingertips to the advancement of an ever changing world through technology. Also, watching children learn and express themselves when they finally ‘”get it’, make a connection and the light bulb stays on!” Iredell-Statesville School & Family 7