Above, LaGrange College students Judd Moore and Aubrey Bonds laugh together wearing The Awkward Teacher’s game day collection, that also featured cus-
tom koozies. Shead made shirts that were team specific and also nuetral to any sport or team.
brother, and she doesn’t live here but orders custom shirts
all the time,” Shead said.
“She calls me her go-to-shirt-girl.”
Shead said creating the shirts has brought her much joy
in life.
“Seeing people wearing my shirts, and seeing them so
happy is amazing,” Shead said. “I love being able to make a
personalized gift whenever I want.”
During Shead’s fourth year of teaching, she was also
getting her masters at LaGrange College and making The
Awkward Teacher a viable side hustle.
“It was definitely hectic and I struggled with balance
with friends, family, church and this,” Shead said. “I had to
find a way each week to sit down and organize it where it
wasn’t stressful, and it was a good, positive thing.”
Shead said her students at school always come first.
“When I am at school, they are my main focus, and it
doesn’t affect my teaching,” Shead said.
32 • LAGRANGE LIVING | FEB. 2020/MARCH 2020
In the past year, Shead has made over 1,000 shirts and
made new friends through the business. At one point, she
was able to make her whole class a Halloween costume and
much more.
“I chose to do this because just like the saying, ‘your
story isn’t over yet,’ with the semi colon, I want to make my
story into something great,” Shead said. “It has flourished
into something amazing.”
One day, Shead hopes to open a clothing store or bou-
tique of her own, but for now she is taking her t-shirt
business day-by-day.
“I’m just here to say that no matter whatever your dream
is, no matter what you’ve gone through in your life, go for
it,” Shead said.
From game days to motivational tee’s, The Awkward
Teacher can be found online and on social media at
theawkwardteacher.com or @theawkwardteacher on Insta-
gram.