Grand Rapids — Reflecting on her “many lives,” Aberdeen Academy’s new principal, Shelley Miller, said she could write several different memoirs about significant events from her life.
A seasoned educator and advocate, Miller has taught in multiple urban school districts, coached high school and college volleyball, and served in ministerial roles for 20 years in children’s and community-building ministry.
“I love my job,” she said of working in education. “There are still challenging days, but we do things as a team and are making a difference in the lives of kids we serve and providing resources to better their experience.”
SNN gets to know the new principal better in this edition of Meet Your Administrators.
Other positions held in education: Miller began her teaching career in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she bought her first house and taught high school English and International Baccalaureate classes. After seven years, she moved back to Michigan to raise her family and continued teaching English at Mona Shores High School. Following a 20-year gap to pursue ministry, she taught English in the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System and served as principal at MHPSA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy for two years before coming to GRPS.
Jobs held outside of education: Miller described her calling to ministry as leaving “nouns and verbs for heaven and hell.” She left teaching to serve as a pastor of children’s ministry for 12 years before going back to school to get her master’s degree in divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, she was the associate pastor at Forest Park Covenant Church in Norton Shores. Following a family crisis, Miller said she felt called to return to teaching in Muskegon.
“The many hats that come with principal leadership — utilizing community resources and supporting families — are similar to pastoral leadership.”
Education/degrees:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Master’s degree in divinity, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
What did you learn from your previous districts that prepared you for your new role? “I started my career in urban schools, at the most diverse school in Minnesota at the time. They had their challenges, but it grounded me, because I (taught students) at every level of achievement and it developed my love for teaching.”
What drew you to this district/building? “I needed a change and GRPS is another urban district, rich in diversity and people waiting to make a difference in the community. I loved their strategic plan. … Transitioning to a new school, I’ll be able to engage with what that looks like and celebrate the history and learning.”
Miller said she loved working with the Muskegon Area ISD and anticipates a similar excitement working within Kent ISD. She is also “all about” the West Michigan Teacher Collaborative: “That is a big passion of mine and I’m really excited about it.”
How would you describe your leadership style? “I’m a very relational leader and like to make connections. Asking people to tell me their story carries over into how I can have those hard conversations and turn that into encouragement.
“The greatest thing I can do as a principal is support teachers, and that’s how I can most impact the kids. … We need to continue developing our teaching and utilizing seasoned teachers as leaders and help them see an opportunity to grow in their profession. The first couple years of teaching are very different, so it’s also about helping them pace themselves for the journey of teaching.”
How has education changed/evolved since you started in your first classroom? “When fax machines first became a thing, I sent some well-overdue homework to the student’s dad. The next day, the student threw the papers across my desk and said, ‘That’s not fair,’ shocked to have to do the work. I started teaching with a ditto machine and grading in a ‘record book’. Not once did I have to tell a scholar to put away a phone in most of my teaching career.”
What lessons have you learned from students over the years? “In each group or building, there have been those who have made a significant impact on how I teach and lead. I have had students become my own foster kids, scholars who have died due to violence and illness, and athletes who have gone to play D1 sports. From Christa, who still calls me ‘mom,’ to the student who came back and told me he hated English but he liked my class, and Cornelius, who I have no idea what happened to in life but once told me I was the only one who asked what he needed: Those are the scholars who have contributed to my motivation behind always improving and growing in my instructional impact.”
What would you like to share about your family? Miller currently lives in Spring Lake with her husband and has two daughters, one in Grand Rapids and another in North Carolina, who recently gave birth to Miller’s first grandchild.
What are some of your hobbies or interests? “I love family time and being at home, especially on my front porch; that becomes my main living area during warmer weather. Camping remains my favorite vacation and visiting my out-of-state kids and grandkid is especially important to me.”
What book, movie, TV show or podcast have you loved lately? “I don’t have as much time to read, but mostly read leadership books, books that help me grow in my faith, and I love reading to my grandkid. (My husband and I) also have a goal to read a book on marriage every year and be more generous than the year before.”
Miller said she is currently enjoying the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast; her favorite book is “When Crickets Cry” by Charles Martin.
Read more from Grand Rapids:
• ‘Taking flight’: District shares plans for new school building
• Discovering the ‘transformational’ power of HBCUs
