Painted Stone Elementary

Michelle Shipley is the Principal at Painted Stone Elementary. Principal Shipley is described as having a positive attitude, a true relationship builder and a commitment to make learning fun.

Shipley said the focus at PSE is on math and continuing to develop the Professional Learning Community (PLC) philosophy within the building. She said great strides were made in literacy because of best practices being implemented by teachers. “Now we need to utilize those same best practices in math,” she said. Staff will also, through PLC meetings, analyze student data more intensely and modify instruction accordingly to meet all students’ needs.

Shipley named those who were instrumental in her educational career, starting with her first grade teacher in Fayette County. “She meant the world to me and I knew then I wanted to touch lives as she had touched mine,” she said.

She met her husband, Todd, while they both attended Georgetown College: she was a cheerleader and he played football. While they were teaching in Florida, she was encouraged by colleagues to go into administration. When her husband was named a teacher and head football coach at Shelby County High School over 10 years ago, she enrolled at the University of Kentucky for the certification. She took the job at Painted Stone after spending 17 years in elementary classrooms.

By Duanne B. Puckett, Community Relations Coordinator, Shelby County Public Schools