Michelle “Shelley” Terry fosters a love of language, literature and learning within her students at Plymouth North High School where she teaches 9-12 grade English and language arts. This is evident as many of her students have gone on to become television journalists, producers, editors and reporters who were first exposed to the industry through her innovative course, Plymouth North News, which creates a high-quality program highlighting news within the school and town. Her course materials and instructional techniques are memorable and creatively implemented. She transformed her classroom into a restaurant with Socratic discussions at each table, invented “broadcast carpool karaoke” and staged an April Fools’ Day broadcast with the superintendent as a joke. These creative approaches make her courses some of the most requested at the school, where her efforts have made academic gains for students at all levels. Her AP language classes consistently outperform the state and students needing improvement receive specialized plans for academic growth and achievement.
Terry’s dedication to excellence extends beyond her classroom as she has led the ELA department for 10 years and advises the school newspaper and National Honor Society (NHS). Her leadership positively affects the community at large through the NHS students’ tutoring sessions for middle and elementary school students, the creation of after-school engagement programs and ongoing philanthropic service efforts helping those less fortunate within the community.
A leader for her students and colleagues, Terry runs summer professional development workshops to help motivate teachers, spearheaded a revision of the school’s core values to incorporate transition goals, and propelled schoolwide professional development for special education, English Learners, and diversity, and equity inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategies. She has mentored dozens of teachers throughout her career and regularly meets with other department leaders to identify and sustain best practices.
Terry received a Bachelor of Arts in English teaching and justice studies from the University of New Hampshire in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in English from Bridgewater State College in 2011.
Press release: Plymouth English Teacher Is First in Plymouth Public Schools to Be Honored With $25,000 Milken Educator Award
