Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1422227
URBAN AFFAIRS INTRODUCING TEXT BY HOLLY MATKIN PHOTOGRAPHER TED STUFF W 16 | SIGNATURE MONTANA hiier Elementary School in Great Falls has a brand new fourth-grade teacher whose passion for child welfare advocacy and helping young students to recognize their own potential is nothing shy of inspirational. Shanell Lavallie, a 23-year-old Aaniih and Nakoda woman originally from the Fort Belknap Reservation, graduated from Salish Kootenai College this past spring. She was a student teacher at Whiier Elementary prior to earning her degree, so she was elated when she was offered the opportunity to take on her own fourth-grade class this school year. "I have a really great group of students, and I love our classroom community," the energetic young teacher says. "I want to be innovative and make the learning environment even beer for our students." Shanell says her personal experience growing up in the foster care system has given her special insight and an insatiable drive to encourage and support her students the same way her mentors did for her. "When I was in high school, the educators in the Indian Education Program in Great Falls saw my potential long before I did," she recalls. "Because they believed in me, they always pushed me to pursue a career and to go to college." One mentor even helped her to complete applications for college entry, housing, and scholarships. "He really went above and beyond, and I didn't realize how much he went out of his way until later," she says. "He believed in me and in every single Native kid he worked with, and my accomplishments are founded on what he did for me." A Big-Hearted Teacher Pays It Forward Shanell has also spent time serving on a multitude of child welfare advocacy boards and programs at both the local and national levels. "I am here because I want to see these kids be successful regardless of where they've been or where they come from," she says. "I want to serve them because they deserve it. I definitely feel like I'm right where I need to be." She's even developed a personal mantra to keep herself and her students inspired. "Education is around us every day, providing us with opportunity," Shanell says. "Be wise enough to see it, take action, and live out your wildest dreams." When she isn't in the classroom, Shanell enjoys spending time with her nephew and six nieces. "I've always had a deep love for them and for being able to watch them grow," she says. "I always want to keep them encouraged and to make them know they're not alone and that someone understands, and I carry that into the classroom as well." S MT Shanell Lavallie is a welcomed addition to the Whittier Elementary School team. This sharp-dressed student is ready to learn!