The Accidental Instructor

Longtime Alabama educator grew up loving technology, but never expected to teach it

- CALVIN HARPER

Center Point is a small city in central Alabama. With a population of 17,000, and a per capita income less than 40 percent of the national average, this formerly middle-class enclave over the past 20 years has experienced a marked transformation.

Perhaps nowhere is that change more noticeable than at the local high school, where 90 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and the student body is 94 percent African-American.

And yet, despite its challenging situation, Center Point High School, the only Title 1 secondary school in the district, is a notable success. With 72 percent of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in both reading and mathematics, and a graduation rate north of 86 percent, it seems clear that someone must be doing something right.

It’s fairly simple to deduce that the mysterious “someone” is a faculty and staff devoted to and engaged in preparing students to meet the demands of college and career. One teacher who notably exemplifies that effort is Rick Shirley, the Network Systems & Computer Services instructor.

When it comes to hard work, commitment, and dedication to students, Shirley (who is “Rick” to everyone who knows him) is hard to beat. As aninstructor he goes above and beyond the usual classroom tasks. In truth, a great deal of his non-school time is spent at school, helping students master the fundamentals of information technology (IT).

Center Point High School has a student body of approximately 750 students and teaching IT is an uphill battle. There is a widespread perception among students that the subject matter is “too difficult.” As a result, Rick works extra hard to fill his classes — without sugarcoating the reality that, yes, IT can be challenging. “IT is one of the most difficult programs at the school, but it’s worth it,” he said.