Walking into room 2321, there is an open feeling and bright-colored posters scattered throughout the room. Ms. Shelby Spence, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an English II teacher here at North Point. She went to college in Pennsylvania, but moved to Maryland when she was offered a job at a college fair.

Former student Julia Keesler (’13) said, “She is really relatable and she really connects with students on a personal level.” Spence has been teaching at North Point for many years now, and seems to really enjoy her job. Her students mean a lot to her. Mike Johnson (’13) said, “Ms. Spence is an awesome teacher. She teaches you a lot, but is laid back at the same time. She treats you like an adult; not a kid. She’s fun to be around and hang out with.”

When she’s not at work, Spence likes to travel, scrapbook, be active, shop, hang out with friends, and read. Over the summer Spence went on an educational tour to England and Paris with twelve teenagers and her co-worker, Ms. DeVeny. She then got to talking about the trip and said her favorite part was “watching other people enjoy the experience of a new culture.”

If Spence could go anywhere in the world, she said, “I’ll be taking another tour to either Italy and France, or Italy and Germany in 2013, and I’m looking forward to that. But, if I could go anywhere, right now, I would go to Germany. I went when I was in college and I really enjoyed the experience. I would love to go back again.”

Spence’s job means a lot to her. She said, “I want to leave behind a good legacy and make a difference, no matter how small.” Does she feel like she’s made a difference? “Sometimes, there are those moments where I feel like I’ve been rewarded by my profession. To see students grow. That’s rewarding.”