Sheila James
University of Georgia
BBA Finance
MEd Elementary Education
Tell us about your family.
I have been married to Dana since 1981, and we have three married sons and five grandchildren.
What were you like as a child?
I was an only child, so although I had plenty of wonderful neighborhood friends, I spent much of my time by myself -- mostly reading. I loved trips to the library! The library bookmobile would also make regular visits to my neighborhood in the summer -- days I always looked forward to. I was usually engaged in quiet activities like reading, puzzles, and playing with my dolls. Imagine my adjustment when I grew up to have three very lively boys!
Who was an influential teacher for you, and why?
This one is easy. I had Mr. Hladik - a short, stocky, bald guy - for every one of my high school math classes, and I adored him. He was tough and pushed me to do my best, but he was the kind of teacher that you wanted to make proud. He had a competitive system in his class that would probably be frowned upon today but worked for me then. My senior year he called us all by our title and last name -- Miss Jackson -- and that made me feel so mature.
What are your interests outside of work?
I really love my job, so even outside of work I often find myself thinking about work projects. I am an avid reader and love to read the classics and books related to education, but I'm not above thoroughly enjoying a good murder mystery. I also love music, good movies, jigsaw puzzles (still), word and number puzzles, and pulling weeds. There's such a sense of accomplishment in pulling weeds!
Tell us a favorite quote of yours.
"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." - John C. Dana
"If ever the cause of Jesus Christ needed men and women who were informed, articulate, thinking, sure of what they believed and just as sure of how it was related to what they knew, it is now. Producing men and women like that takes discipline, hard work, thought, and the best training available. It also takes caring, but caring that pushes and stretches, that disciplines and challenges, that asks students to go the extra mile. Whom the teacher genuinely cares about, she teaches with rigor." - Richard A. Riesen, Piety and Philosophy
