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Teresa Shafe (Republican)

Trustee-Community College District - SCSD #2 - (11854)

800 Hillside Dr
Green River, Wyoming 82935-5014
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Biography

My husband, Dwaine and I relocated to Wyoming in 2005 after his retirement from the United States Army. We were still raising three of our children when I began attending Western Wyoming Community College. Western gave me the opportunity to achieve my educational goals. My husband, brother, and three of our children followed my footsteps and also obtained their degrees from Western.

In the fall of 2008, I was hired at Western as an OIS Lab Assistant. I also taught workforce development courses and 1 credit hour classes in computer applications. In 2016, after obtaining a Master's in Higher Education, I secured a position as an academic advisor, a position I held until my resignation in 2020. In 2016, we began a new chapter in our lives as my husband and I became foster parents. In 2020, we grew our family when we adopted our two sons. Currently, I am working on my teacher certification as I substitute teach at SWCSD#2.

Education is my passion!

Experience

Parents Advisory Board, Baumholder, Germany
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 71, Babenhausen, Germany Treasurer
Parents Advisory Committee, St. Martin's Kindergarten, Aschaffenburg, Germany
Family Support Group Leader, C Btry, 1/27 FA Babenhausen, Germany
St. John's Vestry, Green River, Wyoming

Education

Associate of Applied Science, Western Wyoming Community College
Associate of Arts, Western Wyoming Community College
Bachelor's of Social Science, University of Wyoming
Master's of Higher Education, Abilene Christian University

Community Activities and Memberships

American Legion Post 28
American Legion Auxiliary Post 28

Why I am Running

My love for Western runs deep. I have observed layoffs which made absolutely no sense and a Board that did not question why, save one Board member who resigned a few months later. I also observed a Board that permitted a raise of 3% to the President of the institution in spite of a 25% decline in enrollment, a massive layoff 17 months earlier, and an employee survey that spoke of retaliatory behaviors by administration.

The current Board has not been proactive in doing their job. Western needs unbiased and fresh perspectives that can only happen with new Board members. We need to regain the trust of the community and employees. I hope to become part of a team that questions and looks for resolutions.

I attended six Board meetings in 2021 and six thus far in 2022. I have to say, my concern for Western is very real and we need new leadership as we move forward.

Top 3 Priorities

Our college is the one of the most important assets in our community and surrounding area. I would like to see more community events held on campus. As a Board Member it is my desire to encourage and promote working relationships with students, community members, and employees of the institution.

As a Board member I would like to see more transparency. Not all matters can be discussed publicly, for example, personnel issues. However, salaries, all salaries, should be a matter of public record. No matter the position at the college, the salary should be easily found. Surveys such as "Great College to Work For" should be readily found on the website. The community should be apprised of everything; good and bad. Western is a non-profit institution, funded and built with tax payer dollars. The community has a right to know how the money is being spent.

I plan to be held accountable for the decisions made by myself. I realize not every decision made by the Board will be popular and one person does not the Board make. However, as a Board member, I need to vote in what is in the best interests of the students and community. When called upon as to why I made a decision, I will explain my actions.