I Am Wilshire – Shana Gaines.
Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
Education: B.M. Church Music, Union University; M.M. Church Music; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; M.Ed. School Administration, Lamar University
Profession: Assistant Principal
Present city: Wylie
Tell us about your family.
I have been married to Ron since 2016. We are the parents of Abigail, who is 7. We have a pit/boxer mix named Kamara because we are Saints fans (and I am a die-hard Tennessee Volunteers fan) and a cat named Snowbelle.
How about your work or volunteer life?
I am in my rookie year as assistant principal at Spring Valley Elementary in Richardson ISD. This is my 18th year in education. I’ve taught elementary music, all levels of band and choir, high school math and various positions in special education. I volunteer with Teach Plus and other equity-focused education committees. I also play flute in the Wylie Community Band when I am able.
Tell us about your faith journey.
When I was a young child, I attended a private Christian school, and we had daily chapel services. The lady who led the delightful felt board stories would always say, “If Jesus comes knocking on your heart’s door, you need to let him in.” As a four-year-old, I took that quite literally. One day I had what was probably heart palpitations, but my kindergarten friends assured me it was Jesus! So I prayed to accept Christ, but didn’t really understand. In middle school I began attending church with a friend. At 13, I made a public profession of faith and was baptized. I committed to full-time Christian service at 15, intending to become a minister of music. After graduating from seminary, my sense of vocational calling began to evolve, and I had more and more questions about my faith to wrestle with. It was this chapter of my journey that found me within the walls of Wilshire.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
I am the director of Wilshire Winds, I sub in children’s choir and handbells, and I am a member of Odyssey Class.
What do you think God is up to in your life right now?
Sarah Stafford recently said to me, “Look where you are? Nothing you experienced was wasted.” I’ve definitely been seeing Jeremiah 29:11 play out in my life in this current chapter.
What’s something interesting most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m a big genealogy nerd and have a large binder full of family information collected over the years.
If you are interested in being featured in an upcoming I Am Wilshire article, contact Carolyn Murray