I'm a writer at heart, an educator by calling, a mom to two incredible daughters, and a lifelong believer that growth is possible—even after life's hardest chapters.

I created Shine With Shel to encourage others through honest stories, practical resources, and the reminder that even life's hardest seasons can lead to something beautiful.

I'm also the kind of person who believes coffee solves a surprising number of problems. 😊

I wear a lot of hats, but the common thread through all of them is simple: I love helping people discover the light that’s already within them and grow into who they're meant to be. Whether I'm encouraging a teacher, writing a story, singing on stage, or spending time with the people I love, I'm happiest when I'm living authentically and helping others do the same.

You'll usually find me...

☕ Sipping coffee at home or checking out a new cozy coffee shop

👩‍👧‍👧 Making memories with my two daughters—my favorite people in the world.

🍷 Enjoying good conversation over a local beer or a glass of wine

👯‍♀️ Laughing way too hard with my girl gang

✍️ Journaling, writing, or dreaming up my next story

🌅 Chasing sunsets and looking for any excuse to get back to the beach

🍎 Helping educators grow and students shine

🎶 Singing with my band whenever I get the chance

🎵 Listening to Taylor Swift... probably louder than necessary

What I Believe

• Everyone has a story worth telling.

• Healing isn't linear.

• Growth is messy.

• Teachers deserve to be valued.

• Kindness changes people.

• Boundaries are healthy.

• It's never too late to begin again.

A Few Fun Facts

• ✨ INFJ

• ☀️ Libra • ⬆️ Taurus • 🌙 Cancer (Yes, I love astrology!)

• 💛 Enneagram 2w3 • The Helper with an Achiever wing

(Let's just say self-discovery is one of my favorite hobbies😅)

• 🍎 19 years in education

• ☕ My coffee order: an Americano or cold brew with coconut milk and caramel

• 📚 I'm always reading or listening to something that helps me grow.

• 🎬 I will 100% cry during a Disney movie.

• 🍌 Bananas and I aren’t friends.

Why I Do This

Whether I'm creating a classroom resource, writing a blog post, leading professional development, or simply sharing a story from my own life, my hope is always the same:

That someone leaves feeling a little more hopeful, a little more equipped, and a little less alone.

The Three Parts of my Heart

🍎 Educator

For nearly two decades, education has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I've taught young learners, coached teachers, and now serve as an instructional coach. I've learned that encouragement can change more than a classroom— It can change a teacher's confidence, a student's future, and the way people see themselves.

✍️ Writer

Writing has never been about finding the perfect words. It's always been the place where I discover what my heart was trying to say.

In conversation, I often walk away thinking of all the things I wish I'd said. But give me a blank page, and somehow my thoughts become clear. It's where I've always made sense of life's hardest seasons and found the words I couldn't always find out loud.

My hope is that when someone reads my words, they feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

💛 Encourager

Whether it's in a classroom, over coffee, or through my writing, helping people see their own strength has always been part of who I am.

Long before Shine With Shel existed, I found joy in cheering people on. Whether it was supporting a colleague, encouraging a friend, or reminding someone they were capable of more than they believed, those moments have always filled my heart.

Today, I simply get to do it on a larger scale.

Through teacher resources, coaching, courses, stories, and this community, my hope is the same as it's always been—to help people believe in themselves, embrace growth, and keep shining through every season of life.

If we were having coffee…

I’d probably ask,

"What chapter of your life are you in right now?"

Because every chapter—the joyful ones, the messy ones, and the ones we'd rather skip—has something to teach us.

And wherever you are in your story...

I'm really glad you're here. 💛