(music).
Are you ready for your second act?
Well, we start the show with a woman who made a life changing decision for the better.
Take a look.
So you may be saying, "Yes, I know it's a new year, but I'm still dealing with last
year's problems."
Well, if that's the case, we've got great news for you this morning.
You may be in the perfect circumstance to make a major decision that could dramatically
change your life for the better.
You don't believe me?
Wait until you meet my next guest.
I love her!
In 1997, while going through major personal change, Shanna Peeples made the life changing
decision to go back to college.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Good morning.
So excited to have you.
Thank you.
Alright, so you go back to college at what age?
About 31.
Wow.
And that's not an easy decision.
Tell me what happened.
You're 31 and?
I'm 31 and I decide that I'm a reporter, and I'm covering schools, and I'm in these schools.
And the more I'm with these kids, the more I think I want to work with these kids not
write about these kids.
And so I went back to school at West Texas A&M University.
And I wasn't 18 anymore.
And that was very apparent.
You had children?
Right.
Two kids and a single mom.
And so yeah, very very tough.
So, I'm thinking to myself, "Okay, two kids, a single mom, you have so much to do and offer
your children, finances for that matter."
It must have been frightening.
It was.
And that's the great thing about a school that's small enough to feel like home but
big enough to give you these great experiences, which is what happened for me.
And I was the first person in my family to go to college.
So, my professors were really kind of like champions for me.
They were the ones who were able to say, "Go here.
Do this.
Try this."
And was it hard, Shanna, to kind of like reinvent yourself, if you will?"
Oh sure!
Because, again, you're not 18.
Sure.
You're surrounded probably by teenagers.
Oh yeah.
You're in a university.
Yes.
Well, and it's hard because that does sort of scare you a little bit, but I think that
they make it very safe there.
And, you know, that safety builds your confidence, it builds your self-image.
And you think, "I can do this.
This is something I can do."
So, you get your degree then at West Texas A&M, and then what?
You become a… 7th grade teacher.
Middle school.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness, middle school!
How is that?
Scary.
Really scary.
Way scarier than college.
And I cried every day my first week of teaching and thought I wanted to get my job back.
And then six years later when I went to teach high school, I cried because I thought I'll
never love anything like I love these kids.
But fast forward, and I'd love my viewers to know this right now, fast forward years
later.
You are awarded the 2015 National Teacher of the Year.
Yeah.
Tell me about that moment when you get the call.
Well, it's crazy.
I was actually in a meeting that was very sad, and so I got this call and I couldn't
believe it.
And then they said, "But you can't tell anybody for six weeks because we've got to get things
together."
So, it was like they said, "We need you to swallow this helium balloon and act like everything
is normal."
Tell me about that day.
You were with the President.
Yes.
It's really amazing because the President brings everyone to the Rose Garden, and it's
54 teachers from all the territories and all of the states, and he really honors the work.
And, you know, you can just see everybody smiling and everybody's so proud to represent
this profession, you know.
And then for him to call me out special is even more amazing.
And then you had tea with him?
Yes.
Oh my gosh.
What was that like?
That was crazy.
Well, it wasn't planned, and his security was not happy about it at all.
At all!
What was it like meeting him?
He is amazing.
He is so focused, and engaged, and present.
I mean, and he just happens to be the President of the United States.
Just a minor detail.
Talking to me, you know, from Palo Duro High School in Amarillo.
And I did my research because I am a former reporter, like you are, and I looked this
up and this is the oldest and highest honor any teacher in the United States can receive.
And I believe we have some great video of students of West Texas A&M honoring you.
Let's take a look.
Ms. Peeples was the first teacher that believed in me that I could like, like, get into those
big schools and that I wasn't' dumb.
And for someone to believe in me when I didn't believe in myself at the time that I could,
like, achieve these goals.
She also help me find myself.
As a person, she would use her gifts as a writer, as a teacher, and basically as a mother
that I never had.
I think that she's an amazing person.
I think she's a fantastic woman and somebody that all women can look up to.
I think she's a great mother and I think more than anything a fantastic educator.
And that's why she is where she is.
Oh man, I've learned so much from her.
She's just, she's amazing.
Just the way that she interacts with the students.
Everybody loves Shanna.
It's kind of impossible not to.
Do you love it?
Well, it's crazy.
Well, you know, going back and I do want to end with the fact that you really are an inspiration.
There are so many people I hear a lot saying it's just too late, I don't have the time,
I can't juggle everything.
And you are the epitome of the example.
What would you say to anybody out there that says, "Well, you know, maybe West Texas A&M
would be good for me but I just can't right now?"
I would say, you know, Eleanor Roosevelt says you have to do the thing that scares you because
that's where the good stuff is.
And it is scary.
Reinvention is scary, but you can do it.
And I say your dreams matter and you matter.
I also noticed you have a beautiful necklace there.
I have to just ask you what is it?
It says TY of 15.
Teacher of the Year 2015.
My family gave it to me for Christmas.
So, it's very special.
They must be so proud of you.
Yes, very much.
And you being that example, as all mothers want to be, to their children.
They must look up to you and say, "Way to go, mom!"
Well, you know, I think they probably do, just not in front of me.
(Laughter).
Thank you so much.
Good luck to you, again.
Congratulations.
Thanks for being here.
And God bless you for that middle school and high school calling that you have.
(Laughter).
That's where my daughter is today.
Thank you.
Of course, January is a great time to enroll, so login to WTAMU.EDU or go to our website,
TheBalancingAct.com.
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