Sanneh Spotlight: Shannon DeMuth

The Sanneh Spotlight series introduces Sanneh members to the world on a personal level. Through interpersonal interviews, Spotlight aims to build connections between community members and the Sanneh team.

Snapshot

Shannon DeMuth is a Dreamline Coach at North High School. She enjoys being outside, traveling, hiking, spending time with her family and friends, and dining out for Italian food and tacos. She likes to listen to all kinds of music  (except heavy metal music). Her favorite artists are Khalid, Post Malone, and P!NK.

Working with a Struggling Student: 

We were allowed to bring in a small number of students into the school building two weeks before finals to help them study. I had one student who was failing 5 out of 6 classes. After working with this student for those two weeks, the student got their grades up and started passing all their classes. This student then reached out to me and thanked me for allowing them to come into the building for extra support. They felt that they wouldn’t have been able to pass those classes without getting in-person help. I'm very proud to have helped this student achieve academic success and I hope to continue having similar experiences with other students.

What inspired you to pursue this work? 

I’ve always wanted to work in an organization where I can advocate for others to reach their full potential. Being able to have a job that is rewarding while also making a difference in people's lives is something that I’ve always been passionate about. I am thankful for the work I’m able to do in people’s lives.

What is a day in your role like? 

My job involves communicating and building relationships with students, teachers, and administrators within the school building. Whether it’s walking the hallways, jumping into zoom classes, having 1-on-1 study sessions with a student, or walking into in-person classes, it’s always about building relationships and helping students achieve their academic goals.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your work?

The biggest challenge that COVID-19 has brought to my work are the barriers it has created in the education system. Trying to build meaningful and genuine relationships while not being able to see my students in-person has been the biggest challenge to me as a Dreamline Coach. Navigating the best ways to build relationships with students over distance learning has continued to be an issue that I’ve been dealing with.

What part of your job is something people don’t usually see?

I feel that, especially with the impact of COVID, people don't see how much outreach is needed for the kids to stay engaged in distance learning. Whether it’s messaging a student a couple of times a week to get a response, hopping into zoom calls hoping they are in class, or having to call a guardian hoping they can help you connect with their child, distance learning continues to make staying engaged difficult for students and everyone else.

What is your favorite quote?

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible”