Values Ambassador Spotlight: Angela Shack

Nominated by: Bekah Blakely  |  Value: Leadership

In the Heartspring Therapeutic Residential & Day School, we know how critical it is for students to develop their independence and self-regulation skills. In order for them to be successful, they need all sorts of tools in their repertoire to create purposeful and joyful lives.

One of our lead paraprofessionals, Angela Shack, centers her approach on helping students build independence, reduce reliance on others, self-advocate, and strengthen their coping strategy toolbox to best prepare them for the future, because life doesn’t end at Heartspring.

“Angie has the ability to make the hardest challenges look easy,” said nominator Bekah Blakely. “Whether she’s managing severe student behaviors, guiding staff through emotionally difficult moments, or collaborating on complex plans and protocols, she does so with clarity and confidence.”

Angela approaches every student with care and every challenge with purpose, and we’ve been fortunate to have her as a paraprofessional in the Heartspring Therapeutic Residential & Day School for nearly 20 years.

Her calm, consistent confidence inspires others to follow suit, and she’s never satisfied with the bare minimum. As the paraprofessional lead, she goes out of her way to help staff and students feel supported by helping them work through complex problems and systems.

She’s helped around 500 kids walk through some of the most difficult situations in their lives, and you could double that number with the staff she’s mentored at the same time.

Isaac Williams, Lead Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Angela said her role is to “keep the ball in play” by managing the unexpected and ensuring the safety and success of her classroom on a day-to-day basis.

“I would have been lost without Angela’s guidance and support when I joined the S118 team,” said her supervisor, Alex Kimmel. “Angela’s always going to be honest with you, but in the most loving and compassionate way. She wants the best for everyone and is usually right about things.”

If she’s given instruction, she’s not afraid to ask for the reasoning behind it, because understanding why they’re doing something is as important to her as how they’re doing it. Additionally, her solutions-focused and student-centered team mentality reinforces their confidence and commitment to our students.

Previously working in the Wichita aircraft industry, Angela said she enjoys working with people over metal.

“With people, everything you do and say has an impact,” Angela said.

Working with the students in our care requires patience, compassion, willingness to learn, and strong interpersonal skills. Angela’s quick to ask questions and provide feedback, but she always pauses to take a step back, listen to other perspectives, and collaborate with staff to define their path forward.

When Angie speaks, we listen. Her insight is rooted in experience, empathy, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right and setting students up for success.

Bekah Blakely, Certified Autism Specialist

For Angela, she said nothing’s more rewarding than looking up one day and realizing that a skill she’d worked so hard to help a student learn happens in front of her, because they finally understood what she was trying to teach them.

We’re impacting people’s lives. Are you ready to do that?

Angela Shack, Paraprofessional Lead