Waller Elementary School is proud to celebrate one of our very own!
Shelby Roy, Pre-K ESE teacher, has been named the 2025–2026 Bay District Schools Rookie Teacher of the Year, an honor made even more special through the support of our friends at the Bay Education Foundation. While it’s purely a coincidence, it feels fitting that her last name also forms the acronym “ROY."
With five years of experience in education, including four as a paraprofessional, Shelby’s journey into teaching was inspired by her son's Autism diagnosis. Determined to make a difference for children like him, she earned her degree from Gulf Coast State College and stepped into the classroom with purpose and heart.
In her Pre-K ESE classroom, Shelby creates an environment filled with joy, patience, and possibility. She believes in finding beauty and fun in all she does, ensuring her students feel celebrated, supported, and capable every single day.
Beyond the classroom, she serves as a Girls on the Run coach and remains an active, positive presence on campus. Shelby balances her professional calling with family life alongside her husband, Chris, and Maddox, bringing the same resilience, compassion, and dedication to both.
We are incredibly proud to call Shelby Roy our own and congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition as Bay District Schools’ Rookie Teacher of the Year.