Shannon May, M.Ed.
English & Language Arts, Science & Social Studies

Shannon May has been part of the Valley View School community for more than twenty five years, with a teaching career that reflects both deep commitment and long standing connection to the school. She joined Valley View in 1996, returned in 2020, and plans to conclude her teaching career where it began.

The founder of Valley View School, Dr. Spiva, often remarked that he “hatched” Valley View in 1970. Coincidentally, just down the road, Shannon was born that same year. Growing up in North Brookfield, she was aware of Valley View’s presence in the community, though she did not fully understand the scope of its mission at the time. During her high school and college years, her curiosity about the school grew, and she sought out conversations with individuals who worked there to better understand the program and the students it served.

Shannon earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from Worcester State University in 1992 and became a Massachusetts certified elementary and middle school teacher the following year. Entering the workforce during a challenging job market, she recognized the need to explore alternative educational settings and accepted a position at a therapeutic school. She quickly discovered that this environment aligned closely with her passion for teaching and supporting students with unique needs.

Soon after, a neighbor alerted her to an opening at Valley View School. She applied and interviewed in 1996, at a time when the staff and administration were entirely male. During her interview, Shannon candidly shared that it was time for a female voice to join the team. The school agreed, and she was offered the position.

Over the course of her career, Shannon has taught students in grades five through twelve across all subject areas. In recent years, her focus has been primarily on middle school, where she teaches English, Science, and Geography. She continued her professional growth by earning a master’s degree in Education from Worcester State University in 2005 and maintains her teaching license through ongoing professional development.

Shannon also brings her lifelong passion for music into the school community. Having attended hundreds of concerts since the early 1980s, she launched the MP3 program at Valley View in 2020 to help students discover and appreciate the power of music. In 2023, she became the editor of The View’s News. Working in collaboration with the English department, she introduced a weekly experiential writing initiative that encourages students to reflect on meaningful experiences from the prior week. Student written pieces are published alongside photographs, offering an authentic student voice within the school’s publication.