To the public, trophies and accolades are associated with winning. To Dr. Sheppard, they mean something more. "Success has very little to do with winning," he says. "Success is helping a student reach their maximum potential. Every child is special. My job was helping the student realize that. Helping a young person to identify and unlock their potential is rewarding in a way few can understand."
This became clear for Rodney Redd, who came to the high school as an "at-risk" freshman lacking stability and direction. "I was timid," says Rodney. "I could tell that Sheppard was different from any teacher I had ever had before. He gave me an interest in not only agriculture, but the real-world knowledge and life skills
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>> Dr. Sheppard’s students present him with a rocking chair for his retirement during this year’s Spring FFA Banquet. <<
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that he poured into his teaching." With encouragement from his mentor, Redd joined the dairy judging team. "During that year Sheppard transformed me from a ‘problem student’ with no background in agriculture into a state and national champion dairy judging team member," says Redd. He went on to win two other state championships, served as a chapter officer and State FFA Vice-President and placed first in the region, earning a scholarship, and third in state in the EMC/FFA Electrification Career Development Event (CDE). "Somewhere in that time period I went from a poor academic performer to a student who was on track to graduate with honors." Rodney did graduate with honors from high school and the University of Georgia. (16123-01)
Since retiring last spring, Dr. Sheppard is now a part-time Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for Agricultural Education in Georgia helping 43 first-year teachers "navigate a very steep learning curve" of teaching class, managing the FFA Chapter and competitive teams and supervising student projects. This position enables him to spend more time with his family. Members of his family include his wife, Maureen, and children Jason and his wife, Christie, grandson James, and Joe Ezzard, Reba (a senior at Georgia College and State University) and Justin (a sophomore at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College). The Sheppards, with the exception of Jason and his wife, who reside in Lawrenceville, are members of Eatonton’s Calvary Baptist Church.
Although he is retired, Dr. Sheppard’s legacy continues through his former students Rodney Redd and Callie Lankford as Putnam County High School’s Agricultural teachers and FFA Advisors, along with former student Scott Register, a Jones County High School Agricultural Education teacher and FFA advisor. "I dedicate my life to this profession without hesitation," says Redd. "I feel that I will be truly successful in life when I can make the same positive difference in the lives of students that Sheppard has made on us." <<
