Ms. Shannon Morris has had a long journey in Cinnaminson as she starts as a full-time teacher this year at the high school. Having started her journey in Cinnaminson as a part-time substitute physical education teacher, she was at Cinnaminson Middle School for a couple of years before being transferred back to the High School.
“My goal right now is to just find my footing again and get to know my students better. Being in the Middle School the last two years, all of you guys have grown up now,” Morris said. “I want to be able to know my students better and catch up.”
Morris grew up in South Jersey. After high school, she attended Rowan College Of Gloucester County (now RCSJ) where she received her associate’s degree in health and exercise science. She then graduated from Rowan University earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Exercise Science before pursuing special education and earning her master’s degree from Wilmington University.
Morris began her teaching career at Penn Beach Elementary in Pennsville, New Jersey where she taught health and physical education. She then moved closer to Cinnaminson when she taught at Willingboro High School for two years, and ultimately made her way over to Cinnaminson where she fell in love with the school and town.
“I do like Cinnaminson a lot. I also live in town… when I moved here it felt like home,” Morris said.
She explains that there’s something different about Cinnaminson that the other schools she taught at didn’t have. She said Cinnaminson’s strong school spirit and pride make it feel like a family.
“I feel like no matter what happens we have each other’s back. I think if it came down to it everyone would be there for each other,” Morris said. “I really feel that there are things that have happened in this school with kids and stuff that everybody comes together and acts as a family, it feels safe.”
Growing up, she said she didn’t know that teaching would be in her future career plans. At first, she wanted to explore a career in sports medicine, but after talking with one of her teachers, she decided to make the switch to education.
“She told me, ‘How can you not go to work and enjoy your job, you get to play every day and touch the lives of your students?’” Morris said about how her high school gym teacher inspired her.
Morris said she is excited to be back at CHS and see students transform into young adults. According to Morris, a key characteristic of her teaching style is getting to know one’s students and being able to have legitimate conversations with them, which in turn she said allows them to advocate for grades and learn in a more comfortable environment.
In high school, Morris played soccer, softball, and swam. She continued her soccer career in college and now coaches the girls’ soccer, basketball, and softball teams at Cinnaminson Middle School.
Having previously taught at the Middle School, Morris said she misses not being in the same school as the girls she coaches but is looking forward to watching them grow as their teacher instead. She said she enjoys coaching because it allows her to develop a bond with students beyond just in the classroom.
When not teaching or coaching, Morris said she enjoys watching her two daughters play sports. She also likes to fish, camp, and play pickleball as often as she can.
