This is part of a series of helping the public get to know the new school administrators in Bourbon County.

Shelly Charter, 48, is the new principal of Winfield Scott Elementary School, Fort Scott.

Charter earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master’s Degree in Gifted Education at Emporia State University, and a Building Leadership Certificate at Pittsburg State University.

She has been the Tri-County Interlocal #607 Gifted Facilitator for three years, a 3rd grade elementary teacher for 20 years, and a Title 1 Math instructor for 2 years.

Charter has two sons, AJ (23) and Aiden (22) and one daughter, Lynnsey (20), and Dexter, her Golden Retriever dog.

In her community she has been involved in various church activities, was a FabLab instructor and head director of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM camp for middle schoolers,  a Zumba class, and she loves to travel to new places.

Her hometown is Independence, Kansas.

Why did you become an educator?

“I became an educator to make a difference in the lives of my students. I wanted to teach them that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.”

Did someone inspire you?

“I was inspired by my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Wanda Rush. She made every student feel important.”

What is the best thing about being an educator?

“The best thing about being an educator is knowing that I could be the one person that inspired a student to do their best and never give up on their dreams.”

What is a challenge?

“Not being able to change circumstances that affect a child’s life outside of the school environment.”