Staff Spotlight: Parapro Delores Shippe—Grandma Dee—has a special gift

by Amy Haggerty

Working with children who have special needs has become one of Delores Shippe’s callings in life.

She currently works at Stockbridge Junior/Senior High School, supporting classroom teachers and assisting students with learning difficulties so they can function in the classroom with one-on-one help.

“I love high school and, yes, after all these years, I’m known as ‘Grandma Dee.’” Shippe says.

This paraprofessional has a special gift and is patient and loving when helping students in the district. Over time, she has worked in all three buildings and has become a vital resource for many of our classrooms district wide.

Born and raised in Detroit, Mich., Shippe is a graduate of Western High School. She married her husband, Bruce, in 1963. They have three children: Bruce Junior, their oldest, is a K-9 police officer; Elizabeth owns her own beauty salon; and Tracy, their youngest, is a lawyer and a professor who teaches law classes at Lansing Community College.

Shippe worked at Oakwood Hospital for 25 years before coming to the Stockbridge area. While employed at the hospital, she was the manager of the patient transportation department.

On the advice of their daughter Tracy who lived in Gregory, Delores and Bruce eventually moved to the Stockbridge area and built a house. They have a grandson, Craig, who started school in the Stockbridge Community School District.

Shippe initially began working with the school district as a volunteer at Smith Elementary School. Later, she took a paying position at Heritage, working one-on-one with students who needed extra help.

She was later approached to work with a very special student who was non-verbal, needed assistance on and off buses, and required reading and writing support. He presented many challenges that Shippe was able to help him overcome, and he eventually became successful and more independent. She was able to follow him to the high school and assist him until he moved out of the district.

“That student changed my life,” Shippe recalls.

This gifted parapro has assisted some of the students who are most challenged in the district. She has the ability to reach them and provide constant support to make them feel comfortable so they are able to learn successfully.

Stockbridge Community Schools is fortunate to have Delores Shippe—Grandma Dee—with her big heart and caring ways as a paraprofessional assisting our special needs students in the district.

Delores Shippe, paraprofessional. Her big heart and caring ways have earned her the special nickname “Grandma Dee.” Photo credit: Amy Haggerty