Nicole Sheffer, a health and physical education teacher at Fern Creek High School, is the SHAPE America Southern District Teacher of the Year.
This prestigious award honors outstanding performance in school health education across the Southern District, which represents 13 states from Virginia to Texas.
While the award highlights her individual excellence, Sheffer said she views it as a reflection of the strong professional community surrounding her in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). She credits much of her growth to the mentorship she’s found at JCPS, the KYSHAPE state organization and SHAPE America.
“Being recognized by SHAPE America is incredibly humbling because I’ve looked up to and learned from past Teachers of the Year,” Sheffer said. “I couldn’t have done this without the support, encouragement, and inspiration from the JCPS Health and PE family, KYSHAPE, and SHAPE America, who continue to push me to grow, step outside my comfort zone, and be the best teacher I can be.”
Sheffer was recognized for her passion and her pedagogical approach. By focusing on skills-based health education, she ensures students aren't just memorizing facts, but gaining tools to navigate their lives.
JCPS Health and Physical Education Academic Specialist Jessica Napier praised the recognition as a testament to Sheffer's daily commitment to student growth.
“This recognition reflects the impact Mrs. Sheffer has on her students every day,” Napier said. “Through engaging, skills-based health education, she equips students with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to make healthy choices and to advocate for themselves and others. Her impact reaches far beyond the classroom.”
For Sheffer, health education’s immediate applicability makes it especially useful to students. Her class teaches real-life skills students can put to use the same day, and she constantly adapts lessons to meet students’ current needs.
“Teaching health education matters so much to me because what students learn in class doesn’t stay in the classroom,” Sheffer said. “They use it right away, and many of those lessons stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
Despite the regional accolade, Sheffer's true measure of success remains the feedback from her students. The most rewarding aspect of her career is seeing the ripple effect of her lessons extending into the community, she said.
“Some of my favorite moments are when students come back the next day, or years later, to tell me how they used something they learned or helped a friend or family member,” Sheffer said.
Next, Sheffer will compete at the national level as she vies for the SHAPE America Teacher of the Year recognition.