Shea Stanfield is following family tradition by devoting her professional life to public education.
Serving as principal of Sunflower School brings out the child in Shea Stanfield.
"To reach kids you have to be a kid sometimes -- with a professional attitude," she said.
Stanfield, a spirited first-year principal at 33 years of age, delivers spontaneous high-fives to colleagues and children. A flashing traffic light, liquid hourglass, puppets and other entertaining gizmos adorn her office. She periodically wears Mickey Mouse overalls to school.
At the same time, Stanfield demands her 530 students make a serious effort at expanding the school's culture of respect. For example, she expects students to address teachers with courtesy titles of ma'am or sir.
It goes back to what her late grandfather Howard Scott, who was an Oklahoma school superintendent, and her parents, school psychologist Kaye and music teacher Hollis, said over and over: Treat people as you want to be treated.
Stanfield said that reflected the family's philosophy about the value of public education to society.
"Public education was believed to be a privilege and something that should be respected," she said.
Stanfield and her husband, Brian, followed in footsteps of parents. About the time Shea Stanfield was hired this summer as the Lawrence district's only new full-time principal, Brian Stanfield accepted a job as head basketball coach at the University of Dallas.
These professional opportunities have proven challenging while raising their 22-month-old son, Sutton. Shea Stanfield believes the youngster keeps her grounded.
"I hope as a new principal I will always remember to treat all kids like my own," she said.
Stanfield earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at the University of Arkansas in 1988. She added a master's in education administration from Emporia State University three years ago.
Teaching jobs in Springdale, Ark.; Joplin, Mo.; and Topeka preceded her hiring as a teacher in Lawrence. She taught transitional first grade at Kennedy School for three years before handling kindergarten for two years at East Heights School.
When Sunflower Principal Janet Broers decided to retire, Stanfield applied.
Stanfield's hiring was a rarity: Novice administrator lands principal's job at modern elementary school supported by quality teachers and staff, intense parental activists and capable students.
"I don't know how I was so lucky. I was very fortunate."
Stanfield's task this summer was to learn the mechanics of Sunflower, 2521 Inverness Dr. She credits secretaries Connie Yother and Ann Rundquist for guiding her through initiation. She also had teachers fill out surveys to gather their perspectives of Sunflower. Follow-up discussions gave Stanfield a better feel for them and vice versa.
Stanfield said her top priority as principal was to be accessible to people.
"It's also about being firm. It's being fair and it's being consistent. I have to be a good role model," she said.
School days are filled with meetings with parents, teachers and students. She visits classrooms to keep tuned to the curriculum. A 10-hour day isn't extraordinary.
Her tough moments occur when dealing with complex state rules for gifted and learning-disabled students. Decisions related to accelerating students through the grades or holding students back a year don't come easily, she said.
"The hardest thing is the school is so large," Stanfield said. "I'm finding it a disadvantage I can't get to know the kids right away."
But the scope of her job offers a challenge not available to a classroom teacher.
"I have an opportunity to touch over 500 lives in this building. I only had an opportunity to touch 25 lives before."
-- Tim Carpenter's phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.
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