The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the esteemed winner of the inaugural Trailblazer of the Month Award: Ms. Shannon Sells, SLP!
As Santa Fe Trail’s primary speech language pathologist (SLP), Ms. Sells expertly delivers speech therapy services throughout the school. But, man, oh man, she provides so much more than speech and communication support! As one nominator put it, “All behavior is communication.” So, Ms. Sells deftly helps students navigate executive functioning, social skills, phobias and aversions, sensory sensitivities and much more. One nominator explained it was hard to put into words how much Ms. Sells meant to her child and to her family.
“Shannon goes above and beyond her job title and duties. Without her, we would not have survived the last 5 years. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but it is 100% true.”
When a medical condition caused behavior changes in her child, the nominator says Shannon was their family’s savior. She knew exactly how to help the student with the sudden-onset challenges: anxiety, sensory issues, fears, phobias. And just as importantly, Ms. Sells knew just how to help the rest of their family cope with all of these changes and challenges, too.
“From the beginning, when we were all still figuring out what was going on, and still to this day, Shannon is a source of comfort to our child, a guide and a mentor making sure that our child always has the necessary tools and feels loved and supported. Our child has come a long way and it is thanks to Shannon!”
Ms. Sells is described as a conscientious professional who anticipates school-day or at-home experiences that a child may have trouble with and works with the child ahead of time in an effort to smooth their path. She works around each student’s schedule, she deftly creates data sheets to track progress and she really takes an interest in each child’s success. During the school day, you can find Ms. Sells in her classroom in SFT’s north hallway, working with students one-on-one or in small groups, back-to-back-to-back throughout the school day.
This is Ms. Sells’ 9th year at Santa Fe Trail and her 36th year in the Shawnee Mission School District. In addition to her unparalleled work in direct service to the children in our school, she also delivers early-intervention training for other educators, including Y Care teachers and staff. She serves on the student intervention team (SIT), a coalition of teachers and specialists who put their heads together to strategically support any given student facing notable challenges. Ms. Sells also is a treasured colleague, bringing an energetic and outgoing spirit to work and boosting morale just by being herself. As an additional testament to her dedication to our children and to her work—as if we needed more proof—every school day, Ms. Sells commutes to Overland Park all the way from Lawrence!
To close with the words of one nominator, “There will never be a way that we can truly show Shannon our gratitude. We can only hope that she knows how big of an impact she has made on our lives, and that we will never ever forget her! She means the world to us!”
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Congratulations, Ms. Shannon Sells, SLP, September 2024 Santa Fe Trail Trailblazer of the Month! Ms. Sells was presented with a certificate, a bouquet of flowers and the privilege of parking in the brand-new Trailblazer of the Month parking spot in the upper SFT parking lot. We are so grateful for all she does for the Santa Fe Trail community!
To nominate another SFT rockstar for the Trailblazer of the Month Award, click here for the nomination form.