 | | Photo By Michelle Te | | Many of Bev Shepherd’s grandchildren now attend Woodburn schools. Back row, Mitchell, Paxton, Sierra and Jordan Shepherd. Front row, Tenny Montgomery, Justin, Bev, Jaycen and Jallyn Shepherd, Lily Vasquez, Jordan and Jacob Shepherd, Eden Vasquez and Kegan Montgomery. |
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Live, laugh, love — those three words embody the spirit of Beverly Shepherd, who retired this year as head secretary at French Prairie Middle School.
In fact, during an assembly, staff members at the school praised her ability to stay calm in the “storm” of a middle school office, always sharing her positive attitude with others while also staying on top of the job.
“She has an amazing ability to politely and professionally interact with a wide variety of people,” said teacher Mark Lidtke. “Sometimes those people have been civilized and polite. Sometimes they’ve been angry and out-of-control. But through it all, she treated each person in a kind, respectful and gentle manner. She is truly a classy person.”
Shepherd took a secretarial job in 1982 when the school was known as Woodburn Junior High. Her five children ranged in age from high school to elementary school.
“How did I do it? I prioritized,” she said. “I knew what you had to do, and what you didn’t. Some things just didn’t get done. If it pertained to the kids, that was done first.”
She’s waited a long, long time, for example, to pursue an interest in quilting.
“I’ve got stacks of materials, and patterns that have been waiting for me,” she said. “There’s a long list of quilt shops that I haven’t visited.”
But family and job came first, and Shepherd attacked both with a positive attitude and a smile.
“I’ve been here from the junior high to middle school,” she said. “I lived through year-round school. I was there when we named French Prairie Middle School and we got our own address.”
She’s also worked with seven principals and many more assistant principals.
“It’s been really interesting, learning how to get along with each one, their style of leadership and how you fit in and serve them,” said Shepherd.
In her first six years on the job, her office moved six times. She witnessed the age of computers and was first in the office to learn new programs.
She worked her way into the job of head secretary, which she describes as more of an office manager, keeping track of scheduling, some budgeting and assisting the principal with his schedule.
“It’s something that I think I’m good at,” she said, with a smile. “I like to get all the details.”
But the school staff sees her as even more than that. They appreciate her listening ear, her willingness to “counsel” them when they needed a boost.
“She’s like the counselor to the teachers,” said Edward Tabet, assistant principal. “She can spin anything positively.”
“It is like a second family here,” Shepherd said. “I’ve invested a lot of time, energy, smiles and tears. That’s why it’s so hard to leave.”
But she’s also enjoyed meeting and working with students, even through some rough years where the school experienced a lot of discipline problems.
“It has changed a lot here,” she said. “We had a few years where we had some rough, semi-rough students. But now, with the new programs, dealing with and helping students.”
Shepherd says she particularly enjoys seeing the children of former students coming through the school, former students themselves going out of their way to say hello, and now 12 of her own grandchildren coming through Woodburn schools.
“I like that,” she said. “It makes me feel good. I know that I must’ve said something right, or smiled at them, that they will remember who I am.”
Lidtke said most people would be unable to do her job, even for a few days.
“She has had a very difficult, incredibly frustrating, and often thankless job,” he said. “It would have been very easy for her to be a tired and bitter person. Instead, she is loved, respected and admired by so many people.”
With one grandchild about to graduate from high school, and her youngest one in Woodburn just finishing the first grade, Shepherd said she champions the school district to have a positive effect on their lives.
“I want the best schooling for my grandchildren,” she said. “I believe that teachers and administrators are working to give them the best that they can. I think they should try new things, new ideas. You can’t go down the same path and keep up with the times.”
Shepherd hopes to be a volunteer in the schools, but plans to take some trips with her husband John, including an upcoming trip to Hawaii and serving an 18-month mission for their church.
“I’m glad that I was here,” she said. “I’m glad I had the experiences. It’s made me a better person, it’s made me grow and given me challenges. I’m really glad to be associated with the schools.”
Beverly Shepherd’s rules to live by
1. Mistakes can be fixed. Laugh at whatever is bothering you. We all face troubles and they can only defeat you if you let them.
2. Enjoy people. Decide to be optimistic. We can choose how we view life and other people. Make a deliberate decision to always be upbeat and positive.
3. Don’t get rattled. Instead of complaining or make excuses, offer encouragement and look for answers.
4. Be flexible. There isn’t enough time to do everything we need to or want to. Work as hard as you can and learn to prioritize.
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