Lamaryann Shiver
If you visit Southeast Middle School, you won’t find database specialist Lamaryann Shiver sitting at her desk all day. She greets parents and students in the car loop. She goes out into the hallways to remind students about class changes. She helps out in the cafeteria during lunchtime.
“I’m going to be where I need to be,” said Shiver, who is Richland One’s 2022-2023 Classified Employee of the Year.
Shiver has lived in Hopkins all her life, and she has worked in Richland One for more than 25 years. She started out as a substitute teacher at John P. Thomas Elementary School, and then she became the computer lab manager at Gadsden Elementary School.
When the database specialist job at Southeast Middle opened up, Shiver applied for the position and got it. She says she felt welcome at the school on her very first day.
“When I came here, we became one family,” she said. “That’s how it is with the staff, the students, the parents, and this community.”
Shiver has been working at Southeast for more than seven years. As a database specialist, she is responsible for enrolling students and making sure they’re on track with their grades and attendance.
“If I see where a student is lagging or missing days, I try to reach out to a parent,” she said. “If I’m really close with that student, I’ll bring the student to the side and ask ‘What can we do to get your grade up?’”
Shiver makes sure all the students at Southeast feel loved. She gets hugs from them every day. She leaves snacks and hair supplies in her office for students who need them.
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to make them feel like there’s love within the school,” said Shiver. “Often times, those children need someone they can just talk to and lean on. I’m that person.”
Several students at Southeast consider Shiver a mom, but one student at the school actually is her child—her seventh-grade daughter, Morgan Shiver.
“My mom works hard every day,” said Morgan. “It feels great having her be Classified Employee of the Year.”
Whether she’s in her office or out in the halls, Shiver will do anything to help the students.
“ We’re all here to uplift our children,” she said. “That’s our number one goal.”
Leave a Reply