Situated along the Little River on the western side, Montgomery County on the east, and Claytor Lake on the north, the small community of Snowville is a special place. It only takes one trip there realize that Snowville Elementary is also unique in many ways.
Snowville Elementary is the only school in Pulaski County Public Schools that still performs the Maypole Dance at their yearly fifth-grade promotion ceremony. Each year to celebrate Veterans Day during their ceremony to honor local Veterans, they reenact the raising of the American Flag on Iwo Jima and students perform patriotic songs. They regularly hold creative drives to collect items and raise awareness for local causes.
Their principal, Mrs. Amy Shrewsbury, is a big part of that.
“This is my seventh year as Principal of Snowville Elementary School,” Mrs. Shrewsbury said. “I am proud to say that I have been with Pulaski County Public Schools for 23 years! I am a former special education teacher and my heart has always been to teach students of all ages how to become successful readers. I have served in various capacities within the realm of special education and served as an assistant principal at Dublin Middle School prior to coming to Snowville.”
“I am a graduate of Radford High School, which always makes the Battle of the Bridge an exciting night for me because my husband has always been a Cougar,” she continued. “I received my Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Greensboro College, my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford University, and my Educational Specialist degree in School Administration from Virginia Tech. My family and I reside in Snowville and we absolutely love this community!”
After graduating high school, Mrs. Shrewsbury moved on to college but still wasn’t completely sure of the path she would take.
“I entered college exploring different paths because like most college freshmen, I was unsure as to what I wanted to do," she said. "As I began taking classes, all roads lead me to teaching. I remember playing school as a young child and looking back, that was my sign that I was going to be a teacher.”
Once she began her career, things continued to progress. As with most people, there were moments through her early career that stood out.
“I have a lot of fond memories before moving into this position. I loved teaching students of all ages the joy of reading, but most of all loved figuring out what worked to make reading click with them. Even today, former students will recognize me out in the community and will stop to say hello. I still hang Christmas ornaments on my tree from the students who made them for me in my very first year of teaching,” she said.
Moving from teaching into administration, there were different opportunities for Shrewsbury.
“My favorite part of being a principal is having the ability to strengthen our community by raising our students to be respectful and responsible citizens,” she said. “The joy on a child’s face when they are successful in school is joy that can be found nowhere else. I am a people person and love connecting not only with the students, but with families and the entire community. Having the ability to lead an amazing faculty and staff is an added bonus as well.”
“Perhaps the greatest challenge is finding the balance between the job and my family,” she continued. “The hours outside of the school day are many and the ability to get it all done can be a challenge. I am an early riser so I tend to get a lot of my school work done before I even walk in the door. Many folks joke about the early morning emails they receive from me but for me, this is my way of staying on track with all the things that have to be juggled throughout any given school day.”
It seems clear that Snowville Elementary is reaching for and finding success. The school has a long history of excellence, even before Shrewsbury arrived on the scene. In 2013, the school was nominated for and selected as one of only seven outstanding schools in Virginia for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award. Earning recognition like that takes hard work from the entire community.
“Being in this profession requires an abundance of support from your family, and my family proudly works alongside me at many of our school events,” Shrewsbury said. “Ms. Becky Phillips was perhaps one of the most influential people to me as I began my career with Pulaski County Public Schools. My initial path was elementary education and she encouraged me to obtain my endorsement in special education. From there, I ended up with the best of both worlds by teaching students with disabilities in an elementary school setting. I am so fortunate that she shared her knowledge and passion for teaching students with disabilities.”
“My parents were by far the most influential people, and although they were not teachers, they taught me so many life lessons that have proved valuable throughout my career,” she continued. “They taught me to lead with respect in everything you do and to find the good in everyone around you. Capitalizing on someone’s strength only makes your team stronger. I have always operated from the mindset that if you are going to do a job, then you have to do it right and give 100%. Having the privilege to lead this school is an honor and it is one that I truly love. The faculty, staff, and students make me want to come to work each day and have truly been a blessing in my life. The education profession is one that can be time consuming but for me, it is my way of giving back to this incredible community. Our community is one that is like no other and the community support that is shown to our faculty, staff, and students makes our school the special place that it truly is.”
A look at the staff of many of the schools in Pulaski County will find several former Snowville students now serving as teachers. In some cases, those former students are now serving in administrative rolls as well. This is something that Amy Shrewsbury hopes to see even more of in the future.
“In a world where our educational system is sometimes cast in a negative light, pause to think about the difference you can make. Choose your own path and if teaching is it, then jump into it with both feet and TEACH! Lead your classroom with positivity and encouragement, because you have the power to truly shape a child’s life. It sounds cliché, but students feed off of the energy they feel when they walk into the building and especially into your classroom.”
