Many students around Shadow Ridge High School have had the pleasure of having Coach Shannon Alia as their health teacher. Mercedes in the Morning recognized Alia as the Mercedes Benz Teacher of the Month on local radio station mix 94.1.

“I received the Mercedes Teacher of the Month award and I will get a plaque and $300 in gift cards!” says Alia. 

While Alia got this award for her stellar teaching in the classroom, she attributes this award to simply just caring for her students.

Alia says, “I didn’t do anything but be a teacher who cares about her students’ mental, emotional, social and physical health.”

Alia may attribute this award to caring for all of her students, but she plans on sharing with her favorite students as well as use her winnings for herself. 

“I won $300 in gift cards. I was going to have a donut party for my 2nd period because they are my favorite class, and indulge and treat myself to a manicure/pedicure,” says Alia. 

Alia is very grateful to receive this award for several reasons.

“I was greatly honored and emotional that: A. My co-worker recognized my hard work and dedication, and B. That the morning show picked me!” Alia says. 

Alia is not only continually appreciated by students all around the school, but her fellow co-workers as well recognize the amazing teacher she is. 

“Coach Williams nominated me, and then the Mercedes in the Morning show picked me as their winner,” says Alia. 

For Alia, being recognized by a coworker felt amazing, for her coworker, PE Coach Kalah Williams it was all about recognizing a fellow teacher for her amazingness in the classroom. 

“Coach Alia is a great teacher. She is able to talk to the students in a relatable way which helps build great trusting relationships. She covers a lot of sensitive topics, so providing a safe classroom environment for these tough conversations is imperative,” says Williams 

Teaching can be a hard profession, and for Williams she wanted to motivate Alia and let her know how truly awesome she is making winning the nominations that much better. 

“It is amazing. Not all days are glamorous as a teacher, so providing her a little reminder on all the good that she does in and out of the classroom is the most wonderful part of this whole thing,” says Williams. 

The nomination process was well worth it for Coach Williams to make her coworker feel special.

“You submit a nomination online on Mix 94.1 website. They asked why Coach Alia was deserving of this honor and I just provided everything she does here at Shadow Ridge to make this a better place for all of us,” says Williams