After teaching for the past 36 years, Michael Shields has decided for this year to be his last before retirement.
In room 105, Shields has taught Psychology, Government/Economics, and AP Psychology. His first year of teaching was at Downey High School and then he found his way to South Hills, where he spent the next 35 years. But teaching wasn’t always the career he planned. In fact he was interested in pursuing law before making the decision to switch careers.
“First semester law school to deciding education is a big change, but being able to help kids, that’s making a difference,” Shields said. “Switching interest from the legal profession to education was an easy decision.”
Shields found that being able to help his students, especially through the difficulties that come with being a teenager, has been a rewarding part of his career. He shared what part of teaching stuck with him the most.
“Having all my kids come through South Hills and graduating, and getting into four year schools and graduating from college. It’s probably the most memorable,” Shields said. “Seeing my kids grow and have the experiences that they have that has got them into where they are in life today.”
In addition to teaching in the classroom, Shields has also helped build the Wellness Center and Peer Counseling program at SHHS.
“I saw a need for kids who were struggling and we didn’t have those strategies in place to help kids and so back in 1994 we started building the program. Where kids are helping kids and providing opportunities to help kids who are struggling,” Shields said.
It wasn’t until 2021 that South Hills was able to open both the Wellness Center and Peer Counseling Program along with mental health professionals. Through the contributions of the peer counseling team run by teachers, counselors and students, South Hills received the Golden Bell Award for the Wellness Center and Peer Counseling Program from the state of California in the fall of 2021.
Although Shields intends to retire this year, he expressed how even if it’s time, he will miss his students.
“When you get to a certain age, you want to be able to also enjoy what’s in front of you. And if you keep going and keep going, something happens and then you don’t have that opportunity,” Shields said. “The goal remains the same as I enter my last year. The memories with both staff and students will be the most missed. I have been very blessed and thankful to do what I do for the past 35 years.”
Students have always been at the center of Shields’ career. He expressed how he cared about helping them and did not regret his choice in career.
“So many experiences over the past 30 plus years have helped me realize I definitely made the right choice with my career,” Shields said. “No other career gives an individual a chance to make a difference in so many lives on a daily basis.”
