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After three decades of dedicated service in education, Tina Shiver has retired from her role as a history teacher, concluding her career at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Shiver devoted her entire professional life to Covington County Schools beginning with 10 years at Red Level School and finishing with a 20-year tenure at Straughn High School.

“I could not have asked for a more supportive community in which to teach: first at Red Level and then at Straughn,” Shiver said. “I’ve always had a deep love of history and the way events are interconnected. I love a good story, and the truth is often stranger than fiction.”

Being a history teacher was a source of daily pride for Shiver who combined her passion for the subject with a commitment to impacting students’ lives.

“I truly love history, but it was always the relationships with students that made teaching my dream job. Helping with a scholarship application, navigating a tricky situation, or developing a goal plan is what made my heart happy,” she said.

Reflecting on her 30 years in the classroom, Shiver said that the greatest transformation she witnessed was the rise of educational technology.

“The prevalence of technology has been the most significant change in my career. When I started, we had word processors in a lab; now, each student has their own device. It’s pushed teachers to become lifelong learners and adapt their methods to meet evolving student needs,” she said.

Her deepest hope is that students walk away from her class with more than just historical knowledge.

“Beyond history, I hope students learned to think. I hope they learned to analyze sources and recognize that throughout time and across the globe, people are just people. We don’t have to agree, but even in disagreement, we can still love,” Shiver said.

Shiver emphasized the enduring relevance of studying the past.

“History is important because it shows us how humanity got to where we are. It helps us celebrate our triumphs, learn from our failures, and build a better future,” she said.

In retirement, Shiver is looking forward to spending more time with her family and her two grandsons, Jachin and Webb.

She also plans to remain involved with the Covington County Schools Collaborative Arts programs and hopes to find time to create some art of her own. When art is not on her radar, she intends to travel and catch Atlanta Braves baseball games.

Throughout her career, Shiver recognized the importance of being a role model for her students.

“Kids need to know they’re loved. My students always knew I wouldn’t tolerate nonsense, but I pray every student who walked through my classroom door knew they were loved even when they acted like a knucklehead,” she said.

Her time in the classroom and on the stage shaped her as much as she shaped others. She offered some heartfelt advice to new history teachers just entering the profession.

“I always felt I had to be a great student of history to be a good teacher. I constantly tried to reflect and improve. Co-founding of the Covington County Collaborative Arts program with Jennifer Withrow at Pleasant Home was one of the most impactful and enduring things that I’ve been a part of,” Shiver said. “To new teachers: Keep history close to home. When I taught World War II, I’d tell students about the POW camp right here in Covington County. That really grabs their attention.”

She expressed deep gratitude to her colleagues, parents, and students who supported her throughout the years.

“Schools are at the heart of their communities, and that’s clear in the support they receive. I’m so grateful to the friends I made at both schools and to the parents who trusted me with their children’s education. To my students over the past 30 years, thank you. I always say, if kids know you love them, they’ll do just about anything you ask. The same is true for teachers,” she said.

Shiver also thanked her family for their unwavering support during countless long nights and school events.

“Teaching high school is not an 8-to-3 job. It’s prom decorating, theatre sets, cheer practice, student government: you name it. I missed a lot of time at home, and I appreciate my husband and daughters for understanding my crazy schedule.”

Tina and her husband of 33 years, Kenny Shiver, have two grown daughters: Gabby (Clark) Sanders and Sarah Kate (Ryan) Hager.

“Mrs. Shiver is one of the very best I have ever had the privilege of working with. She was well-loved and will be extremely missed at SHS. The positive impact she has had on the lives of many is immeasurable,” Principal Matt Cobb said.