By Emily Miller
REXBURG — There’s a common theme when people talk about Scott Shirley, who recently retired as principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Rexburg after 35 years with Madison School District.
“Mr. Shirley knew every student by name, took the time to greet them every morning with a knuckles or a high five, and was genuinely concerned about each of them,” says Amber Wolford, a teacher at Lincoln.
According to fellow teacher Brandi Walker, “Every morning, you would see Mr. Shirley out greeting parents and students with fist bumps calling each student by their name.”
Teacher Ann Ahrensen says, “He did an awesome feat each year. He memorized each and every student’s name and always addressed each of them by their name.”
The parents noticed, too.
“Mr. Shirley always knew my children’s names and remembered they belonged to me,” says Jessica Hansen. “He knew who they were! Not because they were in trouble and sent to the principal’s office. He knew them because they were his students that he took care of and loved. That is just who he is.”
Shirley’s ability to remember his students by name extended beyond the years they were his students.
“You can tell that Mr. Shirley loves his job and the students,” says Elaine Lake. “He knew all of my kids’ names and still asks me how they’re doing, years after they have left Lincoln.”
Mr. Shirley’s knack for names was intentional. It’s one way he showed the kids at Lincoln that they were important to him.
“Probably my trademark thing that’s helped me is that I’ve tried to learn the names of all the kids,” Shirley says. “If they know my name, I should know theirs. The kids enjoyed the fact that I knew their names, and not just because they’d been in trouble.”
Shirley grew up just a few miles away in Sugar City. As a kid, he loved sports, but didn’t consider himself one of the standouts.
“I was good enough to make the team but not good enough to really play,” he says. “About our sophomore year we organized a rock ‘n’ roll band. We went around and we actually made some money back in the 60s.”
His love and talent for music has been an asset to his long career with Madison School District.
“Music has been a huge part of my life,” he says. “I play several instruments. That’s come in handy to entertain the kids with.”
Shirley began his career with Madison School District about 35 years ago when he was hired as an aide at Archer Elementary.
Upon graduation from college, he already had a teaching job lined up at Lyman Elementary.
“The district actually offered me a contract before I graduated, so I thought that was kinda cool,” he says.
Over the next few years, Shirley was promoted to head teacher, then teaching administrator at Archer Elementary, and then spent some time as the principal of both Archer and Lyman elementary schools. He was asked to add Burton to the list when the school was new and he agreed to try it for a week.
“For one week, I tried to work with three staff, three PTOs and try to have faculty meetings,” he says. “I was on the road all the time between those three schools.”
He decided that “three schools was too many.”
Next, he spent seven years as the principal at Kennedy Elementary, then a couple years at Hibbard, followed by three years as the assistant principal at Madison Middle School. Finally, Shirley wrapped up his administrative career with nine years at Lincoln Elementary.
“I’ve been at just about every school,” he says.”The parents have been amazing everywhere I’ve been. Amazing kids come from amazing parents … It’s about the kids and the parents. The parents are our customers and we enjoy trying to keep them happy as much as we can. It’s their school.”
When asked about the educational philosophies he values the most, Shirley explained that helping kids to be excited to be there was critical.
“When the kids get up in the morning, they’re excited about going to school,” he says. “If we can do that, then everything else seems to fall into place.”
Shirley says it’s easy to get caught up in the procedural side of things, but that doing his best to know each student was more important.
“Knowing something about the kids is, it’s money in the bank,” he says. “Kids should be excited about coming to school each day. If they’re not, we’re sleeping at the switch.”
Shirley placed a lot of importance on hiring great teachers and staff.
“It’s always been my motto to hire people who are smarter and more talented than I am, and that has not been a problem,” he says. “After I hire people that are smarter and more talented than I am, I provide them with the training materials and the time that they need to do their job. I’m not one that micromanages, I didn’t like being micromanaged at any job I’be ever had, so I give a lot of latitude to the teachers and it’s paid off.”
Shirley retired from his position as principal at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, but he isn’t done with Madison School District. He will still be working for the district, making instructional videos and being available to fill in for school administrators as needed.
Taking his place as the new principal of Lincoln is Dr. Josh Beattie, who was most recently the assistant principal at Burton Elementary. Shirley said the school and the students would be in good hands with Beattie.
“When you’re a principal, it’s not about you, it’s about the kids,” Shirley says. “So, what we do is we carry the baton like a relay race, and when it’s time to pass the baton, you pass the baton on to the next person, and they get to start out with fresh energy.”
Beattie spent 17 years as a school psychologist before making the switch to administration. He is happy with the change, as it allows him to get to know students on a more personal level.
“I’m super excited,” he says. “As a school psychologist, I was at lots of schools and I didn’t get to know the kids as well, or the faculty. Now, I get to know the kids and their names and they get to know me, so I love it.”
What people had to say about Mr. Shirley
“He is amazing and will be truly missed! He hired me from a Skype interview because I was living in Illinois at the time and we wanted to move out west somewhere. It ended up being Rexburg, Idaho! Who gets hired that way?!?! I will forever be grateful for the opportunity he gave me and my family! We love it out here!” – Beth Martinez, Teacher
“I have worked here at Lincoln Elementary since 1997 as the librarian. In those 25 years I have had 5 different principles. Mr. Shirley has been one of my favorites. He is always willing to listen, his door is always open. He is positive and uplifting in his announcements. It is so fun to see him playing his ukulele for the students in the morning. I have so enjoyed working with him. He will be missed here at Lincoln.” -Debra Smith, Librarian
“Mr. Shirley is a great listener and had a way of teaching his staff to be more attentive listeners as well. He did an awesome feat each year…he memorized each and every student’s name and always addressed each of them by their name. He always supported his staff and it was enjoyable to work in the positive environment he fostered at Lincoln.” -Ann Ahrensen, Teacher
“I admire Mr. Shirley’s witty humor. He uses it to create strong relationships with staff, parents, and students. Every morning, you would see Mr. Shirley out greeting parents and students with fist bumps calling each student by their name. He loved sharing his talent and love for music. He was always happy to come share music with any class by playing his guitar and singing songs that would invite the students to sing with him. My favorite memory of him singing for students would be at Christmas time when he would sing a version of “Jingle Bells” with an accent that had us laughing all the way through the song. He will surely be missed by many!” Brandi Walker, Teacher
“We have lived in the area of Lincoln Elementary for the past six years. I have had the privilege of knowing Mr. Shirley as a principal to my kids, a parent volunteer, and then as a boss when I went back to teaching a couple of years ago. In every capacity he has always made me feel needed, valued and respected. He has an incredible ability to make everyone feel that way. Mr. Shirley knew every student by name, took the time to greet them every morning with a knuckles or a high five and was genuinely concerned about each of them. I loved it when he would pop into my classroom to see what we were doing. He let my students read their stories to him, he would sing songs to them, and even join them in bubble gum blowing contests! He is a man of wisdom and integrity, and I am grateful for the opportunity to associate with him. He will definitely be missed at Lincoln Elementary. ” Amber Wolford, Teacher
“You can tell that Mr. Shirley loves his job and the students. He knew all of my kids names and still asks me how they’re doing years after they have left Lincoln. I also worked with him in PTO and he is supportive of our goals on PTO and always expresses appreciation for the work we do.” Elaine Lake, Parent
“Mr. Shirley always knew my children’s names and remembered they belonged to me. He knew who they were! Not because they were in trouble and sent to the principal’s office. He knew them because they were his students that he took care of and loved. That is just who he is.” – Jessica Hansen, Parent
“I love that he plays the banjo for us and has Mr. Slim. He is very funny, too.” Lola Rowe, Student
“I admired him being outside to meet all the children in the morning, rain, snow, or sun, and giving them fist pumps. That shows me how much he cares about the children he is over.” Allison Rowe, Parent
“I admire how every person feels heard with Mr. Shirley.” Marian Hayes, Teacher
