Shirley has been an educator for 21 years and has an extensive background in Special Education, Social Emotional Learning, and Restorative Justice. She is currently an Adjunct Instructor at the Community College or Aurora in the Early Childhood Department and has been with CCA for the past 11 years, she was named the 2018 Instructor of the Year. She is a Senior Education Specialist at Generation Schools Network, and works with the Teacher Leadership Program and SEL teams. In her roles as an educator, peer evaluator, and Dean of Students, Shirley led district initiatives in Denver Public Schools like Culturally Responsive Teaching and served as a leader and resource for new teachers, peers, and district leaders. Shirley holds a master’s degree from Walden University in Educational Leadership, a bachelor’s from Metropolitan State College at Denver in Psychology and African American Studies, and an Associate’s from Rose State College in Elementary Education.