Shannon Verschueren - Crest Special Education Teacher/Case Manager, Resource Room/Structured Study Social Skills, HS Drill Team Coach

Location: Mercer Island High School and Crest Learning Center

Job description: Shannon provides direct instruction for students with I.E.P.’s (Individual Education Plans) who need support and additional instruction to be successful in general education. This might involve academic subjects like math, reading, or writing, or it could include instruction in organizational and personal skills. In her social skills class, for instance, students grapple with such subjects as how to go on a date or how to act on an airplane, via games, role play, and problem-solving questions. Shannon is fascinated by the differences in the way students learn and how their brains work. “I could have a student who is in AP level science but doesn’t understand how to have a conversation.” Shannon keeps in touch with students after they graduate, and has received a lot of positive feedback as they navigate through college. “Every day there is something to celebrate.”

Typical day: “My typical day is as structured as humanly possible!” says Shannon. “I have so many kids doing so many different things. Each of my students has a goal sheet so that he or she knows what to work on. Flexibility is the name of the game here.” Shannon, who would be a professional organizer if she weren’t a teacher, feels it is never too early to learn organization skills.

In her first period of the day, at Crest, Shannon focuses on self-advocacy. “When my students go to college,” she says, “they will need to know how to get extra support if they need it.” She does the same the rest of the day with her students at the high school, where she teaches structured study and social skills classes in the resource room, as well as one drill team class. “We are called Case Managers because we help the kids manage their time and plan long-term goals,” Shannon explains. “From eighth grade on, we begin asking them what they’re going to do after high school. They express their interests, and we help them determine the steps to get there.”


Best part of the job: “I love community building,” says Shannon. Working at both Crest, the high school, and as a drill team coach, has given her that opportunity. “Bridging the gap between special education students and Crest students has been awesome,” says Shannon. She has hosted dinner parties for the drill team at Crest, enlightening team members to the fact that there are summer class offerings at Crest. Shannon, who went to Mercer Island schools, learned early about the importance of interested teachers who are invested in the well being of their students. “I had great relationships with all my teachers,” says Shannon. “During times of stress, my teachers were my pillars of support, consistency and comfort.”

Something people may not know: Shannon is deeply rooted to Mercer Island. In fact, her senior class voted her most likely never to leave! Her mother graduated from MIHS in 1974, and Shannon herself graduated from MIHS in 2002. Several generations of Shannon's large family continue to live on the island today.

Years in district: This is Shannon’s third year with MISD.

Outside interests: “I've always done drill team; I was on the team for three years,” says Shannon. “It's a huge part of my life.” She also dances, (hip hop, jazz, ballet) and scrapbooks. She and her boyfriend, Matt Stock, also an MIHS grad, enjoy traveling. Shannon was a chaperone on the MIHS Senior Vietnam trip in February 2010. The money raised by the individual students and families funded orphanages there. The experience, says Shannon, was “life-altering. It was great to feel connected with so many kids I never would have had in classes otherwise.”