1. Name
Shawn Kelly Wisley
2. Spouse/Significant Other's Name (if any)
Shanah Renea Laudermilk Wisley. With a maiden name like Laudermilk, I felt pretty certain she'd say yes when I asked her to marry me! And did you catch that we're Shawn and Shanah? My lovely wife works at our church leading a Christ-centered 12-step recovery ministry (ReGen). She's pretty much a rockstar, and my rock, too. She is one of the best mothers on the planet (genuinely), and puts up with my craziness! She is a quintessential Enneagram 4 (google it).
3. Kids' Names and Ages (if any)
Eden (11) and Emma (9). They're both at the same school this year (hallelujah!): Kepler Neighborhood School in downtown Fresno. They love Star Wars Bad Lip Reading music videos.
4. Pets?
Cat (Jelly Bean) and dog (Millie). I don't consider myself a "pet person", but they bring joy to the household, so I'm good.
5. Your Birthdate
September 25, 1975...so I'm 42 as of this writing.
6. Favorite sweet treat
Candy bar? Take 5. Candy? Sour Skittles, Sour anything! Baked good? Lemon bars!
In truth, I really shouldn't have too much of this stuff...I'm a type-1 diabetic. I was diagnosed as a young adult; I have an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). So if you hear me talk about being high, know that I'm talking about my blood sugar!
7. Favorite savory snack
Popcorn! Really, I'm a sucker for anything salty/crunchy. But real popcorn, popped in coconut oil and smothered in butter and salt...that's my favorite!
8. Favorite movie EVER
Much Ado About Nothing. Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh are two of my favorite people, so that's a no-brainer. Other movies with commentary: Open Range (when I want to feel manly), Napoleon Dynamite (flippin' sweet!), The Bourne Trilogy, The Princess Bride ("There are four of us, if we ever find the lady. Oh...hello, lady!")
9. Favorite restaurant
Oh man...I fancy myself a foodie, so I've got a lot of thoughts here. Here in Fresno, Annex Kitchen cannot be beat. The Fresno State corn agnolotti was breathtaking. Cracked Pepper is a close second, and Max's Bistro is a distant (but great) third. Out on the coast, Jocko's is my favorite...I don't understand people who say F. McClintock's! Unsolicited opinion: Me & Ed's is disgusting. Ampersand Ice Cream is a revelation (beet & fennel with finishing salt has been my favorite, but I love just about all they do).
Down in San Diego, I love Carnitas Snack Shack, Lucha Libre Taco Shop, Phil's BBQ, DZ Akin's Delicatessen, Miguel's Cocina (for the calamari relleno & white sauce!). My favorite celebrity chef is Richard Blais, so I can't wait to check out Juniper & Ivy or the Crack Shack.
That all having been said, I'm a foodie...not a food snob! So I love chili dogs (Tommy Burger is my favorite...for burgers, too). Here in Fresno, I love Triangle Drive-In, Rudy Jr.'s Chicken Man (RIP), Chuck Wagon, Chef Paul's, etc. My In-N-Out order is a double-double animal style (no tomato, no grilled onion), add sliced peppers, fries well-done. I love Costco hot dogs and Wienerschnitzel. My favorite tri-tip is Mike's Grill (on Cedar/Herndon) and I'm definitely a fan of Westwood's.
I fancy myself a bit of a home chef. My smoked ribs are darn good, I make a prize-winning Texas style chili, and I make a coconut curried butternut squash soup that will blow your mind. I'm the reigning champion of the SUSD Tech Department Burger Cook-Off, where I featured a 50/50 burger (half ground bacon) on a pretzel bun with black forest ham, cheddar cheese, and Mendocino mustard. Tell me there's a cook-off, and I will bring the thunder!
Oddly, I don't care for: tomato, onion, cilantro (so salsa is out), mushrooms, and much garlic. HOT TAKE: garlic mashed potatoes are just ruined mashed potatoes, and garlic fries are not only disgusting...they're inconsiderate to those around you!
10. Favorite color
Orange. Really.
11. Alma Mater(s)
Baker University (Baldwin City, Kansas). A school of 800 in a town of 3,000. At that age, I needed to get away from home, so leaving San Diego to study Spanish in middle America made a lot of sense. In fact, I ended up having upper-division Spanish classes with only one other student and my native-born Cuban professor! So it actually proved to be quite the education!
I got my masters at National University (just to move over on the pay scale...I can't even remember my thesis). I got nothing out of it.
But my Administrative Services Credential program at San Diego State University (go Aztecs!) was really refreshing. I feel like I learned a ton, and it really helped me make the transition from guy-who-never-thought-he'd-be-admin to a confident, inspired administrator who truly believes that servant leadership is what I'm meant for: serving and empowering teachers by improving systems, promoting a positive climate, and finding ways to clear the crap out of the way so that teachers can do the actual work of helping students learn!
My high school alma mater is Santana High School in Santee, California. Go Sultans!
12. Favorite Soft Drink
Orange soda. But as a type-1 diabetic, I've grown accustomed to diet, and often the only option is cola. I try really hard not to drink sodas anymore, but I will almost always have a sparkling water in my hand!
13. Favorite Sonic Drink
Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade! (Only between 2-5pm for half price. And usually a 99¢ corn dog!
14. Favorite Starbucks Drink
Double shot of espresso in a short cup. Top with steamed heavy cream. Drop in one Splenda.
15. Favorite Dessert
Lemon Bars
16. Favorite Fast Food
In-N-Out. But let's be honest. A Jack-in-the-Box taco is hard to beat. So wrong, but so good!
17. How do you feel most appreciated ("love language")
1. Acts of Service
2. Physical Touch
3. Words of Affirmation
4. Gift Giving
5. Quality Time
18. If we wanted to give you a shout out for something we see you doing well, do you want us to:
• Go ahead and say it in a staff meeting
• Put it in the weekly staff newsletter
• Write me a private post-it
• Tell me privately
• Other: really, any and all of the above! In the Gallup StrengthsFinder, one of my top 5 is "Significance", so I definitely respond well to being told I'm doing well
19. Favorite college and/or sports team
College basketball: Kansas Jayhawks
College football: San Diego State Aztecs
NFL: (San Diego) Chargers
MLB: San Diego Padres
NBA: LeBron
Hockey: Just watch the playoffs
20. How many years have you been teaching/working at a school?
17 years as a high school Spanish teacher at West Hills High School in Santee, California. I also taught AVID and was the yearbook advisor for 7 years. This is my 5th year in admin: 3 as a program manager at ALMS, 1 as an assistant principal there, and now as an assistant principal here at SHS! I'm super-excited to be here. Coming back to a high school feels a bit like coming home!
21. Tell us an interesting story about yourself!
I was hit by a drunk driver head-on. My airbag (and the fact that she was driving a Mini Cooper) saved my life. I suffered an open tib-fib fracture (both of the bones in my lower right leg were broken). I have permanent hardware in my leg, and that's why you'll sometimes see me limping. The surgery fix is not the best, and I have chronic pain as a result. I hope someday to have a second surgery to affix a metal plate which would help to alleviate some of the pain, but I need my diabetes in better control before they'll do an elective surgery! To read a long blog post about the accident (including gory pictures...don't worry, you have to click multiple times to see them), click here!
22. Share your favorite quotation/thought/motto here:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot
OTHER STUFF:
- My Twitter handle is @mrwisley Some of my favorite hashtags: #KidsDeserveIt #TLAP #LeadLAP #LeadWild #LeadwithCulture #CAedchat #dadsasprincipals #BearNation #StaysHungry #RelationshipsMatter
- I'm one of 10 moderators for #CAedchat on Twitter (Sunday nights, 8pm Pacific)
- My Instagram username is @mrwisley
- Find/Friend me on Facebook: Shawn Wisley
- I go to the Well Community Church, Fig Garden campus
- I'm totally a Mac fanboy
- Why'd I move from San Diego to Fresno? Finance$.
- I love listening to podcasts! I've got a blog post brewing about that!
- Favorite bands: Over the Rhine, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, Sara Groves, jazz (think Miles Davis and John Coltrane), the Hamilton soundtrack (still), James Taylor
