Bowie teacher Shannon Heard, left, was Principal Lauren Habluetzel's student in fourth grade. 

Shannon Heard remembers lots of things about fourth grade: loving math and science, the cubbies, and her teacher, Lauren Habluetzel. 

Now, Heard is a teacher at Bowie Elementary where Habluetzel is the principal. And she’s teaching – you guessed it – fourth grade math and science! 

“When I heard (Habluetzel) was a principal, I immediately reached out when I started doing my observations in school,” Heard said. “I came and I did my observations here, and I was placed here in my student teaching. It’s a great school! I feel at home here. They’re very welcoming, very supportive. I couldn’t dream of a better school to be at right now."

Habluetzel said having Heard in school as a teacher, rather than a student, feels “like a full circle.” 

“It makes me feel older or wiser or both!” she said with a laugh. “It’s pretty cool to give back and help somebody start their career and knowing the impact she’s going to make.” 

The full-circle effect of excellent teachers inspiring their students and others to choose education as a career is one facet of Greenville ISD’s tradition of growing our own leaders and inviting aspiring educators to Come Grow With Us.