After working in education for 15 years, a Greene County educator is now entering her first year as an administrator.

Karen Shannon grew up in Mount Ayr, Iowa and earned her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University. She taught at the former East Greene Middle School in 2000, before taking a break from teaching to raise her family’s two children. Once Shannon’s youngest started kindergarten, she went back into teaching at the former Jefferson-Scranton, now Greene County Elementary School. After Shannon earned her master’s degree from Buena Vista University, she was the middle school counselor. Last year, Shannon served as the district math instructional coach and is now the new high school principal. 

While her love of children drew her into the educational field, working with other teachers, first as a counselor and more so last year, she discovered a desire to help more teachers and adults on a grander scale until this year when she became an administrator. Shannon says her inspiration to become an administrator was from the Greene County Elementary Principal Audrey Hinote.

“Last year I saw her lead in a way that inspired me a lot, and she has done a great job there. We’re learning a lot together still and we’re going to keep learning together, her and I, and (Middle School Principal) Cara (Osborne) too who is at the middle school. I attribute some of the decision and the path for me as being an administrator to see Audrey forge the path as not just as a leader, but female leader.”     

Shannon tells Raccoon Valley Radio some of her goals this year are to listen, communicate and make decisions that will be followed up on and adjusted if needed. She points out making the transition to being the high school principal was smoother because she knows most of the students.

“I had them at the middle school, I had them at the elementary. Our senior class, I taught 75-percent of that class and they are now the leaders in this building. I have relationships with these students and the staff, I’m working on developing relationships with them as well.”  

Shannon knows the hard work that teachers put in with students and hopes parents are excited to entrust their child’s education to the high school staff and is looking forward to an exciting year.