Shannon Osborne: Shannon Obsorne joined C.C. Ring Elementary School this year as a districtwide instructional coach after spending the last 15 years at Fletcher Elementary School.

For Shannon Osborne, joining Ring Elementary School this fall as a districtwide instructional coach has been both a new challenge and a continuation of her lifelong passion for working with Jamestown’s students.

As one of 10 new instructional coaches working with teachers across the Jamestown Public Schools, Osborne chose to step into a new role in a different building this year after spending more than 15 years at Fletcher Elementary School. Her charge: to support teachers across the district in developing engaging and effective classroom practices.

“While moving to a new school was definitely difficult, the staff at Ring have been kind, supportive, and welcoming,” Osborne said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with.”

The change in scenery has only affirmed her passion. She notes that “working with new teachers has been inspiring because it has provided me with the opportunity to learn from their fresh perspectives, support their growth, and witness their passion for helping students succeed.”

“I wake up every day excited to go to work,” Osborne added. “My day is full of meaningful conversations, sharing of ideas and problem solving. The process of supporting, guiding, and celebrating milestones together creates a sense of community and reminds everyone involved why teaching is so impactful. On the flipside, working with the experienced teachers has been critical because they offer a wealth of knowledge with refined instructional skills.”

“Shannon has brought such a positive energy and collaborative spirit to Ring,” said Principal Michelle Trussalo. “She has a natural way of connecting with teachers and helping them feel supported. Her experience, insight, and genuine care for students shine through in everything she does, and we’re so grateful to have her as part of our team.”

Osborne’s focus this year is on streamlining practices and sharing information efficiently, while learning more about the benefits of Professional Learning Communities — known as PLCs — and the power of collaboration. The rudiments of this work, she believes, comes from the strong team she worked with at Fletcher — Teresa Isabella, Chris Emley, Megan Fisher, and Jenn Schrader.

“My growth as an educator has been profoundly shaped by my work with my 2nd grade team I had at Fletcher,” she said. “Collaborating with such talented and insightful colleagues has elevated my practice to a level I could not have achieved without them.”

A 1995 graduate of Jamestown High School, Osborne’s journey in education began well before she entered the classroom. As a high school student, she began working with city youth in 1993 at Project Love, a beloved after-school program led by the late Vicky James. When she returned from college in 1999, Osborne served as Youth and Family Director at the Jamestown Area YMCA.

“With the encouragement of my husband, who also is a teacher with JPS, I decided to go back and get my Elementary Education degree,” she said. “I subbed several years while my own children were young and became a proud employee in 2007 at Fletcher Elementary and I never turned back.”

Thirty-two years after walking into Love Elementary School for the first time, her passion still is with Jamestown’s children.

“They have helped me become the teacher I am proud of becoming,” Osborne said. “They have taught me to think outside the box, to challenge myself, and to never give up. The students in Jamestown have helped me define my life’s purpose.”

Looking back on her career, Osborne says the most rewarding part has always been about relationships.

“Hands down it is the relationships I have made with my students and their families,” she said. “It truly takes a community to raise a child. Community-building is at the heart of my approach to education and I want to foster that approach in my role as an instructional coach.”