Volunteer Profile

Ella Shelley volunteers to help the kindergarten and first-grade students at Tigerton Elementary School. Shelley was born and raised in White Lake, graduating from White Lake High School. She earned an associate degree in secretarial science at Northcentral Technical College and worked for a few years at a clinic in Antigo. After Shelley married, she stayed home to home school her four daughters. Shelley and her husband, Dee, who is retired, have been married 43 years and live in Split Rock, where they are remodeling their home. They have 11 grandchildren who they often visit. They also like to travel. The couple is involved in their church, Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Wittenberg. Q What do you do when you volunteer at the school? A “I help Mrs. (Linda) Kreklow and Mrs. (Susan) Nordwig with whatever they need. I spend an hour on Monday with the first grade and on Wednesday with the kindergartners. The kindergartners may come out with letters of flash cards, or sounds or numbers and sometimes sight words. The first-graders quite often will read to me or have flash cards with math facts. Sometimes we play games.” Q How long have you done that and how did you get started? A “Maybe five years, give or take. I had wanted to volunteer for some time. We lived here eight years, and once we moved here, our girls were grown up. I know that little ones in a school situation need a little one on one. I called Brenda, the librarian, and asked if I could come. I said I could come two days a week. On Mondays, I am there from 1 to 2 and on Wednesday from 1 to 1:45.” Q Why do you volunteer? A “My reason for doing what I do stems from my relationship with Jesus Christ. When I was 19, I was discontented and a friend told me how I could have my sins forgiven. I put my trust in Christ. Jesus was a servant and I do it to serve God and to serve people. His desire is to mold me into his image and that includes being a servant. I do it with joy. I love those children and there’s great reward in that.” Q Would you encourage others to volunteer? A “Those teachers work so hard. I get tired just watching. They put a whole lot of themselves into teaching.”