SANDY SCHULTZ sat in her first-year nursing class at Middle Tennessee State University. Heavy textbooks rested in her lap.. She stared at human anatomy diagrams, feeling disconnected, as if they belonged to someone else’s story. Her mother was a nurse, and she’d always assumed she’d follow suit, but something felt off. The material interested her, but the path didn’t. A quiet voice inside whispered — this wasn’t where she was meant to be. After a year and a half, that nagging feeling led her to make a change.
Returning home, she tried substitute teaching in Grundy County, where she unexpectedly discovered her love for working with children. That experience led her to switch her major to education, leading her to what would soon become the career of her dreams.
As an educator, Schultz’s main goal was to create a positive, inclusive environment that nurtured and empowered students and helped them tap into their innate potential.
Schultz treasured those moments when her students’ ‘lightbulb’ flickered on, and she realized her vision for them had come to fruition.
“One of the greatest joys as a teacher is hearing a student say, ‘I didn’t think I could do it, but I did,’” she reflected.
Those big and small victories kept her going through late nights grading papers and long days refining lesson plans.
“Hearing how a former student has gone on to achieve their dreams reminds me of the lasting impact we can have as educators.”
Schultz’s love for education didn’t begin nor end at the classroom door. She wanted to support teachers and students on a larger scale, which eventually led her to become a principal.
As a teacher, she wanted to promote a positive and inclusive learning environment and carried that same vision forward as a principal.
She provided teachers with the resources, encouragement, and professional development they needed to do their best work because she believed “a thriving school starts with motivated and valued educators.”
Her time as a principal was one of the most fulfilling seasons of her career. It came with challenges — managing crises and meeting diverse student needs — but also triumphs, like implementing successful programs and building high team morale. She embraced every moment.
When Schultz retired, she joined the Franklin County School Board, which allowed her to stay connected to her forever passion: education.
“When I retired, I realized I was not ready to leave education behind. Serving on the school board allowed me to collaborate with educators, administrators, and families to address our schools’ challenges.”
The ideas of equity, student achievement, and safety inspire everything she advocates for on the board.
“All students should have access to quality education regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or abilities,” she said. “We want to prepare our students for life beyond school.”
Even outside traditional school settings, Schultz continues to fan the educational flame. She has taught inmates at the Franklin County Jail for the past two years.
At the jail, she helped many women who had never completed high school learn multiplication tables, improve their attitudes toward education, and avoid trouble attending their daily classes. Several of them earned their high school diplomas.
“For many inmates, earning a high school diploma is their first significant educational achievement. This kind of milestone gives them confidence, a sense of accomplishment, and the mindset that they can improve their lives.”
Schultz hopes to be remembered as someone who led with love — for people and education.
“I want to be remembered as an educator who wanted the best for her students and always believed education could change lives.”
Sometimes, the most meaningful roads take us on unexpected detours. When we open ourselves to new opportunities, they can take us places we never imagined. GN
