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Biographical Information

Currently a Professional Employment Consultant with Human Resources at Greenville County Schools.  She retired as the Instructional Coach and Literacy Specialist at Simpsonville Elementary School, Shirley Willimon worked with teachers to improve classroom instruction. She has developed programs that promote tolerance and improve student self-esteem, such as her innovative "Just Like Me" program, which combined fifth-graders at Simpsonville with students from Washington Center, a school for the severely disabled. She also created "Getting to Know You," a summer program aimed at building a stronger bond with students bussed in from a remote housing project. In the classroom, her activity-based curriculum included a unit on longitude and latitude in which students apply geographic concepts to real-life storms. Several years ago, Mrs. Willimon left the classroom to be one of twelve teacher leaders selected to participate in the state's ADEPT (Assisting, Developing, Evaluating, Professional Teaching) program. After three years she returned to a reading specialist position and in 2002 became the Instructional Coach at Simpsonville. In 2014 she returned as the Literacy Specialist in her school. She enjoyed the opportunity to work with students again under the State "Read 2 Succeed" initiative.

Personal Message

Teaching was my passion.  I loved all my students and seeing the growth throughout the year.  I appreciate the support from parents and administrators that enabled me to provide learning opportunities for my students that taught tolerance and acceptance of peers.  Since I retired, I have been working part-time for Greenville County Schools Human Resources vetting teacher candidates, working with the candiates from across the US to facilitate the application process.   It is a pleasure to connect with young educators and experienced educators that are excited to begin teaching and many are looking to move to our great city...Greenville, South Carolina.