Music that Describes Shelby
Shelby Austin was nominated by her colleague, Valerie Riedthaler.
Ms. Austin exemplifies what it means to be a LifeChanger through her unwavering commitment to the students and families of Wings of Change Learning Center. As a kindergarten teacher serving students with disabilities, she creates a classroom where every child is valued, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. She understands that success looks different for every student and celebrates each milestone, no matter how small, helping children build confidence in themselves as learners.
Ms. Austin has a remarkable ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her students. She develops strong relationships with each child, taking the time to understand their individual strengths, challenges, and learning styles. Through patience, creativity, and compassion, she designs engaging, individualized lessons that foster academic growth, communication, independence, and social-emotional development. Her students know they are safe, accepted, and loved, allowing them to take risks and achieve goals they may have once thought impossible.
Beyond the classroom, Ms. Austin makes a lasting impact on the culture of Wings of Change Learning Center. She is a positive, encouraging presence who willingly supports colleagues, collaborates with related service providers, and shares ideas that strengthen instruction across the school. Her optimism and teamwork contribute to a welcoming atmosphere where both students and staff feel respected and valued. She consistently demonstrates that education is a collective effort, and she is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Ms. Austin also displays natural leadership within her school. She embraces new initiatives with enthusiasm, models best practices for fellow educators, and approaches challenges with professionalism and a solution-oriented mindset. Her dedication to continuous improvement inspires those around her and reflects her commitment to providing the highest quality education for students with diverse learning needs. Her professional performance is consistently exceptional. Ms. Austin maintains high expectations while recognizing and honoring the unique abilities of every child. She communicates effectively with families, building trusting partnerships that extend learning beyond the classroom and ensure students receive consistent support both at school and at home.
Most importantly, Ms. Austin creates a nurturing environment where kindness, patience, and respect are evident every day. She teaches the students not only academic skills but also how to build friendships, solve problems, regulate emotions, and believe in themselves. Her classroom is a place where children experience joy, belonging, and unconditional encouragement. Throughout everything she does, Ms. Austin demonstrates the highest moral and ethical standards. She advocates tirelessly for her students, treats every family with dignity and compassion, and consistently puts the needs of children first. Her integrity, dedication, and genuine love for students make her an extraordinary educator and an invaluable member of the Wings of Change Learning Center community.
Ms. Austin truly embodies the spirit of the LifeChanger of the Year Award. The impact she has on her students, colleagues, and families extends far beyond the classroom and will continue to shape lives for years to come.
Shelby is an amazing teacher. I have seen such a positive impact on Levi!
We absolutely loved having Ms. Austin as our sons teacher! She does so well with all the kids and when you walk in the room you can tell they just all love and respect her so much. This school has done amazing things with our child but teachers like Ms. Austin are the gold standard!
Ms Shelby has made such a special impact on not only my nephew Levi but our entire family! She is an amazing teacher & person with such a big heart!
Shelby was a amazing teacher for my great grandson. She is truly a blessed for all the children
Miss Shelby is an exceptional teacher who leads with compassion, kindness, and patience. She creates a warm and welcoming environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to be their best. Her gentle guidance, understanding heart, and dedication make a lasting difference in the lives of her students. Miss Shelby truly goes above and beyond, and she is so deserving of this recognition! She has truly made a remarkable difference in my great great nephew Levi ❤️
Ms. Austin has done amazing work with my younger cousin, I’ve noticed he’s more talkative whereas prior to Ms. Austin’s work he was nonverbal, Thank you to Ms. Austin!
Miss Shelby is absolutely amazing and deserves the world !! She makes such an impact on this school and the students and community.
An amazing teacher, my nephew was always very excited to go to school!!! She takes a lot of pride in her work and her students. I have noticed a lot of academic progress with my nephew and I have no doubt that it's because of Ms. Shelby's dedication!
She was awesome with her students especially Levi cozy
Very nice and good with her kiddos
Ms. Austin has made such a difference in many children’s lives. She really sees each student for who they are and takes the time to understand them. Her classroom feels safe, warm, and full of encouragement—my child knows they’re accepted and loved there.
She’s patient, creative, and so kind, and she helps the kids grow not just academically but also in confidence, friendships, and handling their emotions. I’m so grateful for the way she partners with families and always puts the kids first.
The best thing that the "Wings of changes learning center" is to have SHELBY AUSTIN as their teacher who takes the time with each individual student to develop a strong compassion encouraging support that a child needs in life.
Ms. Austin had my son for kindergarten 2 years ago but he still runs to hug her everytime he see’s her! She made a huge impact and helped him grow and develop to her best ability! She is 1000% deserving of this award and I hope to see her win! Thank you “Miss Shelby” for everything you did for Draylen! We love you!
I love working with Shelby she is a good teacher and a good employee to work with!
I was lucky enough to be placed in Miss Shelby’s KG class when I came to wings. Although I was only in her class for a few months, she welcomed me with open arms, and was willing to help me with anything I needed along the way. She is the same way with her students. She is patient, fun, creative, and I was so lucky to have been placed with her. She loves her students and they love her. Many even often stop by and visit even after moving on to the next grade, and I think that speaks volumes of her character and the relationships she builds. Congratulations Shelby!
Shelby is deserving of this award. I’ve only watched her from afar, but she is very dedicated to her students
I have worked with Miss Austin for the last three years at Wings Of Change. She is kind patient and I can always go to her when I need something. I tend to pop in her classroom because she always has fun and engaging activities planned for the students she works with!
Thank you for the patience, compassion, and dedication you show every single day. You see the strengths and possibilities in every student, celebrate their progress—both big and small—and make them feel valued, capable, and loved.
Your work goes far beyond teaching. You advocate, encourage, support, and inspire, making a lasting difference in the lives of your students and their families. The patience you give, the challenges you overcome, and the countless moments you celebrate do not go unnoticed.
Thank you for being a teacher who truly sees every child and believes in what they can become. You are making a difference that will last a lifetime.
Shelby is a kind colleague, a fellow lover of Dunkin!
She wisely utilizes Amazon wish lists to obtain needs and wants for her classroom. She is willing to clean up & work with lightly used equipment and is grateful. Shelby is responsive to advice and concerns She is willing to share advice as well. She makes learning for kindergartners, our youngest learners, at Wings of Change Learning Center hands on, individualized, lessons to build future citizens!
Shelby is an amazing teacher who has changed the lives of many students and adults.
Shelby is truly deserving of this recognition. I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the passion, patience, and genuine care she brings to Wings of Change and, most importantly, to the students and families she serves. She has a way of making a difference simply by showing up every day ready to encourage, support, and believe in those around her. Wings of Change is a better place because Shelby is part of it, and I’m incredibly proud to see her recognized as a LifeChanger of the Year nominee. Congratulations, Shelby!
She loves her kids and truly enjoys teaching. She is a voice for those who don’t have one.
Miss Shelby, has not only changed my grandsons life but mine as well. Seeing him grow, learn and communicate over the last two years truly is amazing. Everything she does seems to be for her students and that is so selfless. We need more teachers like her!!!
Shelby is a fantastic teacher! She is able to bring her classroom to life by thoughtfully crafting the most creative session plans and ideas that are age appropriate for her students. Each lesson is meticulously planned to meet each student where they are at while focusing on sensory experiences and important life lessons. Each week I am in awe and inspired to see what new experience Miss Shelby and her classroom enjoyed for the week. The love and care she pours into her students is evident by the smiles on each child’s face!
Ms. Shelby is a phenomenal teacher. She is incredibly supportive, nurturing, and, encouraging, while teaching the children respect and boundaries. She is communicative and goes above and beyond to help her kids and their families. My son talks about Ms Shelby constantly. She has made a huge impact in both of our lives. When my son is with her I know he is safe and cared for. We will be very sad when it’s time to move on. She has set a very high bar for all his future teachers!
Ms Shelby, as we know her, has been my son's teacher for 2 years! She is Wonder woman! And I know she doesn't work alone. But she makes sure that she loves on each of her kids in her classroom and makes them feel valued and important, seen and heard! Which is more than I could say for lots of teachers this day and age. She has a classroom of special needs kids who are all very needy in their own special way. She loves them for who they are and she treats them with dignity and respect as well as the families! She is great communicator and is always happy to see her kids in the morning as they come in to greet them! We love Mis. Shelby!
Ms. Shelby has a wonderful ability to make her classroom inviting and welcoming to every student who walks through her door. As one of the school’s speech therapists, I often have the opportunity to push into her classroom, and she consistently creates a collaborative and supportive environment. She is a wonderful teacher to work with and goes above and beyond to create a loving, inclusive environment where each student feels valued. Ms. Shelby takes the time to develop individualized plans that help each student feel successful and supported in her classroom.
Ms. Shelby is hands down one of the best people to come into my sons life. Her support both inside the classroom and in life is admirable. She really cares and it shows with all she does for our kiddos
Miss Shelby is absolutely one of the best teachers Wings has. It melts my heart seeing how much she loves her job. Everyone she comes in contact with truly loves her so much!! I am so glad to call her my friend!!
Shelby is truly an amazing kindergarten teacher. I have had the pleasure of working directly with her over the last few years and she is nothing short of spectacular! She is focused on the diversity of our most fragile students and treats them all with dignity and respect. She is fun and takes the time to teach our students in many diverse ways. Her favorite is hands-on learning with her students. She makes learning exciting and fun for all of our students at Wings of Change Learning Center. Shelby is kind and always willing to step up to help not only with our students, but with our staff as well. Great addition to our school!
Miss Shelby,
Was my nephew Levi teacher last school year. I could tell that she was and is a great teacher because Levi loved going to school each day. He always came home with some great crafts , you could tell she put time in to what the kids were doing. Levi talked about the baby chicks they hatched in class to.
I remember hiring Shelby at Wings of Change. She has not only changed the life’s of all of her students, she has changed her own. While dedicating herself to teaching a classroom of students with disabilities the skills of learning to be a student, teaching how the I read, write and do math, she also taught them social skills, adaptive living skills, functional life skills, and social emotional skills. The most amazing part was she was going to school herself the entire time to learn how to be an even better teacher.
Shelby is the type of teacher every parent wants their child to have. She is kind, resourceful, fun, creative, and always making sure each child receives everything they need.
There is no one more deserving!
I knew from the day Shelby was born that she was going to be something special. Being her Granma has been the privilege of a lifetime and watching her grow has kept a permanent smile on my face. Every time Shelby achieves something new, I am always excited but never surprised. Shelby has always been the most loving, sensitive, and compassionate soul anyone could ever know. Her achievements are expected because when she puts her mind to something she will achieve it. When we speak on FaceTime, daily, her face lights up as she talks about her students, school, and coworkers. She loves those kids more than anyone could and puts every single part of herself into her job. She loves that she gets to learn and grow alongside her students. Shelby is very special to me as my granddaughter and is very special to the world as a teacher. Everyone who gets to know her is better because of it, I know I am.
I knew from the day Shelby was born that she was going to be something special. Being her Granma has been the privilege of a lifetime and watching her grow has kept a permanent smile on my face. Every time Shelby achieves something new, I am always excited but never surprised. Shelby has always been the most loving, sensitive, and compassionate soul anyone could ever know. Her achievements are expected because when she puts her mind to something she will achieve it. When we speak on FaceTime, daily, her face lights up as she talks about her students, school, and coworkers. She loves those kids more than anyone could and puts every single part of herself into her job. She loves that she gets to learn and grow alongside her students. Shelby is very special to me as my granddaughter and is very special to the world as a teacher. Everyone who gets to know her is better because of it, I know I am.
Shelby is amazing! My niece was in her class and loves her more than anything! She still visits everyday just to see her!
I've known Shelby since freshmen year of high school & I will say she is truly gifted in what she does. Being a teacher is not easy and comes with a lot of challenges & long days/nights when you're truly dedicated to your job and she is the epitome of a dedicated, passionate teacher. Over the years she has worked extremely hard to get to where she is & went to college to obtain her degree on top of continuously dedicating her time to her students and I couldn't be more proud of her. If I had kids that were able to attend her classroom I would send them in a heartbeat.
No one is more deserving of this than Shelby. She truly cares for each of her students.
Shelby brings so much passion to her students. Every day she goes above and beyond in her lesson plans and meeting her students diverse needs. Shelby also is always ready to jump in and help co-workers.
Shelby is such an amazing teacher and always goes above and beyond to help her students!
It is my honor to be able to support Shelby. I had the privilege of teaching next door to Ms. Austin my first year of WOC. Although I have 40+ years of teaching experience, this was a different setting, community and group of amazing students. Shelby was always present to lend a hand whether it was to answer a question about curriculum and procedures or to help support a friend. Ms. Austin is an exemplary educator.
Ms. Austin has been a life changer not only for my son, Wyatt, but for our entire family.
My son Wyatt is almost five years old, is nonspeaking, and has Level 3 autism, The world can often misunderstand him, but Ms. Austin never has. She sees his strengths before his challenges and celebrates every victory, no matter how small it may seem to others.
As a parent, there is nothing more comforting than knowing your child is loved, understood, and genuinely wanted. Ms. Austin has created that kind of environment for Wyatt. She has met him exactly where he is, adapted to his unique needs, and never expected him to fit into a mold he wasn’t made for.
She has been patient during the difficult days, celebrated the breakthroughs, and communicated with us in a way that made us feel like true partners in Wyatt’s education. She understands that progress isn’t always measured by words or test scores. Sometimes it’s measured by trust, confidence, a new skill, or a smile that wasn’t there before.
Teaching children with significant support needs requires extraordinary compassion, creativity, and dedication. Ms. Austin brings all of those qualities every single day. She doesn’t just teach academics.. she teaches independence, confidence, and belonging.
Families like ours never forget the people who choose to see the potential in our children when the world so often focuses on their limitations. Ms. Austin has changed the trajectory of Wyatt’s educational journey and has given our family hope for his future.
For those reasons and so many more, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the LifeChanger of the Year award than Ms. Austin. Thank you for being the kind of teacher every child deserves and every parent hopes to find.
Shelby is an amazing leader and teacher. She has been babysitting my son since he was about 3 years old and he really enjoys all the things they have grown up doing. She deserves this award for her school!
Shelby is truly an amazing teacher! She goes above and beyond for her students every single day, and her passion for teaching shines through in everything she does. She is always coming up with creative crafts and engaging activities that make learning fun and meaningful. Her kindness, patience, and dedication make such a positive impact, and her students are so lucky to have her. Shelby is the kind of teacher who makes a difference that her students will remember for years to come!
Miss Shelby is an amazing teacher and person. She goes above and beyond for her students. She is all ways there if you need her. She is a loved by her students. She is always looking for new ways to keep her students engaged in learning through crafts and games. We love Miss Shelby. She went above and beyond for my grandson. She even took time out of her day to come to his birthday party.
Shelby is an amazing teacher! She is dedicated and hardworking. She goes above and beyond for her students and families. Every year instead of receiving birthday and Christmas gifts for herself, Shelby asks family and friends to pick things for her classroom from a wishlist. Shelby is a creative lesson planner and she engages learners in a variety of hands-on experiences. One example is her life science unit, she sets up an incubator and the kids get to watch eggs hatch in the classroom.
When Shelby first came to Wings, she was an assistant. I knew within one week that she would have her own room and be a lead teacher. She is changing lives on a daily basis. She puts her students first, and is always thinking outside of the box. She deserves all the praise and credit!
Miss. Shelby is one of the best people i have worked with. I was a paraprofessional in her classroom, and it was amazing to see her work with the kids everyday. The children love coming in and seeing miss shelby and give her excited hugs every morning and want to tell her all about their evenings. She incorporates learning into fun where to the kids it probably doesnt feel like learning too much and more play!. Its a joy to see how everyone flows in her classroom. Miss Shelby, is one of the best I know!
Ms. Shelby is an amazing teacher who truly cares about her students. She consistently goes above and beyond to support each child and help them succeed. The classroom environment she creates is warm, welcoming, and inviting, allowing every student to start their day feeling safe, valued, and cared for. Her kindness, dedication, and passion for teaching make a lasting impact on her students and their families.
Shelby is an amazing teacher who is so passionate about teaching and very supportive to students and parents
Shelby is an amazing teacher who structures her classroom around each and every student. She goes above and beyond and she truly amazes me!
Shelby Austin is the definition of a LifeChanger. Every day she gives her whole heart to her students, helping children with disabilities discover their strengths, celebrate their successes, and believe in themselves. Her patience, creativity, and unwavering compassion create a classroom where every child feels safe, valued, and capable of achieving great things. As a colleague, I have watched Shelby go above and beyond—not because anyone asks her to, but because that's simply who she is. She is an incredible educator, a supportive teammate, and a passionate advocate for every student and family she serves. The positive impact she has extends far beyond her classroom and will be felt for years to come. If anyone truly deserves to be recognized as a LifeChanger of the Year, it's Shelby Austin. She changes lives every single day.
