{"id":4371,"date":"2024-09-19T11:29:17","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T16:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=4371"},"modified":"2024-10-08T11:26:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T16:26:47","slug":"2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-adam-shirley-month-of-september","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2024-blue-kc-sporting-samaritan-honoree-adam-shirley-month-of-september\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Honoree Adam Shirley \u2013 month of September"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue KC and Sporting KC<\/a> have announced Shawnee Mission Northwest High School forensic science teacher Adam Shirley as the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan honoree for September<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nearly ten years ago, Adam Shirley \u2013 then in his second year as an educator \u2013 initiated the forensic science program at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. It started with one small group of students who wanted to learn something new. The interest grew, and so did Shirley\u2019s program. As he begins his ninth year, he\u2019s now a full-time high school forensic science teacher and has successfully taught more than 900 students since the program\u2019s inception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always seem to find new moments where I feel proud of my contributions to my community and my students,\u201d said Shirley. \u201cMy moments of pride usually come when I get to see my students do what they are most passionate about. Many of my students go on to do amazing things and become incredible people. I\u2019m extremely proud when I get to see what they have become and to know I made my small contribution to them becoming who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Kansas Citian since he was eight-years-old, Shirley received his associate degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College, followed by his bachelor\u2019s degree at Park University. He continues to push himself and welcomes the opportunity to learn as much as he can about the subject he teaches. Shirley is currently attending graduate school classes at Emporia State University in the Master of Science and Forensic Science program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first began my career at Shawnee Mission Northwest, I had no clue what I was walking into, and I was extremely intimidated,\u201d said Shirley. \u201cThere were adjustments to be made, and I needed to learn fast. However, the community was so embracing. Throughout everything we (educators) go through, I get to see the young people I work with learn, grow and support each other as much as they can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shirley\u2019s teaching style is simple. He loves teaching and tries his best to set up an environment where students can focus on learning. He talks with them, jokes with them, and takes an interest in whatever interests them. Shirley cares deeply about every student who walks into his classroom and will always do everything he can to show them how important and special they are to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI always tell my students to be themselves,\u201d said Shirley. \u201cIt becomes easy to fall into the trap of acting how others think you should act, or being who someone else wants you to be. But everyone needs their sense of self independence. Be the person you are. As an educator, it\u2019s my job to teach my content of science, and I will always do my best to teach my students to be problem-solvers that can handle anything they come across. But just as importantly, I am helping shape my students into citizens of the community they are in. My students have standards of learning the science that is being taught in the classroom, but they are also following important lessons in expectations, critical thinking, and cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attention-to-detail and welcoming classroom environment Shirley creates stems from his time as a student teacher. While in that role, he learned the importance of being able to successfully block out all the outside noise of what was going on in the world around him and to solely focus on what was right in front of him. He\u2019s been able to carry this approach to Shawnee Mission Northwest and has a bright future in our local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven if I may not be able to change the world, I can work on whatever is in front of me,\u201d said Shirley. \u201cIn my career, I cannot possibly hope to control all the decisions being made around me, but I can do everything in my power to improve the lives of the students I have the opportunity of working with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdam is an incredible teacher that works extremely hard to assure that he is creating an inclusive classroom for all<\/em> students,\u201d said one of Shirley\u2019s five nominators, MacKenzie Pheiffer. \u201cHe goes above and beyond to learn more about his students\u2019 future aspirations and works to help them achieve their goals by doing things such as finding higher education institutions, trade schools, or internship\/connections to help prepare them for their life after high school. The amount of care, effort, attention, and consideration he puts into assisting students makes Adam the teacher that every teacher should strive to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe passion Adam shows toward forensic science has been on full display his entire career,\u201d said Christina Lively, Blue KC Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. \u201cSeeing him start the program from the ground up, and successfully evolve it into a full-time opportunity is a testament to his hard work, determination and commitment to what he truly believes in. Adam found an interest and used his skills and abilities to create a program for large quantities of students to learn the inner workings of forensic science. Congratulations Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans are encouraged to nominate teachers and students who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/NominateSportingSamaritans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs<\/h3>

Blue KC Sporting Samaritan Program<\/p> <\/div>\n

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