Staff Spotlight: Fifth grade teacher Emily Shepherd is not one to sit still for long

by Don Porter

Emily Shepherd, a fifth grade teacher at Heritage School took an interesting path to becoming a teacher in Stockbridge.

She grew up all over in Michigan; she was born in Muskegon, then lived in Grosse Pointe, Cheboygan and Jackson due to her father’s job.

Shepherd had to adjust to new schools and friends several times. According to her, moving and learning to fit into new places made her the person she is today. She attended school in Gross Pointe as a lower elementary student, and Cheboygan for her upper elementary and middle school years. Her high school years were spent in Jackson, where Shepherd was an avid soccer player. During that time, she even competed in a traveling soccer team throughout Michigan, which she recalls as  a wonderful experience.

Growing up in the family as the youngest of three girls made for a busy household. Shepherd describes her parents as awesome and incredibly supportive of the three of them. Over the years, she has become very close to her older sisters. Emily says they each went their own unique way, and while they are all quite different, they really enjoy each other. Her older sister Tori went to the Naval academy and became a pilot; now she will be flying for Delta. Her sister Hannah is creative and an incredible actress.

While attending Michigan State University, she met her future husband, Austin. During her first two years of college, she followed an engineering course of study. It just didn’t seem like the right fit. She credits her future husband for encouraging her to become a teacher. She always had a passion for working with kids and helping them in any way she could. It was the right choice, and she loves her job. Interestingly, Austin attended Heritage when he lived in Stockbridge. So now, Emily Shepherd has had the chance to work with some of the same teachers Austin had when he attended the school years ago.

The Shepherds were married in 2021 and now have a 14-month-old son. They live in Pinckney.

When not busy teaching and raising her son, she loves sailing. Shepherd feels as though she has been a sailor since the day she was born. Growing up, every chance they had to go out on the boat or participate in a race they did. Even now she says that she watches the wind and thinks to herself, “Wow this is great sailing weather.”

While living in Cheboygan she developed a passion for snowboarding thanks to a program at Boyne Mountain for students during the winter. According to Shepherd, nothing is prettier than fresh snow on a mountain in the total silence of early morning.

A busy young woman, Shepherd wishes she had more time for writing stories. Someday she would love to write a book and become an author.

As a fifth grade teacher, forming positive relationships with the students and their families and watching her students grow into awesome individuals has been very rewarding. As Student Council advisor, she believes that helping to grow the future of our great country is important. Her hope for the future is that funds become available to make classrooms livelier—a more fun environment. She hopes they stay involved in the community, and along with her counterparts at Heritage, she plans to work together to provide what is needed for students to succeed.

The Stockbridge community and Heritage School is fortunate to have Emily Shepherd helping to mold our fifth graders into good citizens.

Don Porter is a former Stockbridge Schools deputy superintendent. He also served as assistant principal at the Jr./Sr. High School, and then principal at Smith Elementary, Katz Elementary, and Heritage School. He and his wife, Tammy, live in Stockbridge and enjoy fly fishing, golf, traveling, and working in the yard.

Photos provided by Emily Shepherd.

As Student Council advisor, fifth grade teacher Emily Shepherd believes in helping to grow the future of our great country through her students. Photo credit: Deanna Kruger

Pictured with her father, Michael Overton, Heritage School teacher Emily Shepherd feels as though she’s been sailing since the day she was born.

Emily Shepherd (right) and her husband, Austin, enjoy time together on the slopes.

Shepherd (right) spends quality time sailing with her sisters, Tori (left) and Hannah (center).