Shelby Atkinson brings real-world experience, strong hometown roots, and a passion for guiding students. In her first year at Meridian, Shelby is right where she wants to be—giving back to the community that raised her.

Shelby grew up in Mounds, just down the street from where she now teaches. Each day, her father drove across the river to work in Wycliffe while her mother, a teacher, dropped Shelby and her brother at school in Cairo. Those early routines gave her a sense of connection between home, family, and community that continues to shape her life.

After graduating from Cairo High School in 1999, Shelby earned an associate’s degree in art and design from Shawnee College and then a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and merchandising from SIU in 2004. While in school, she worked at JCPenney in merchandising. Her supervisors quickly noticed her talent, and just before graduation, she stepped into the role of visual manager.

That first job launched a career spanning some of the biggest names in retail. Shelby spent five years with JCPenney, later worked for Macy’s in St. Louis, and returned to JCPenney stores in Fenton, West County, and South County. At Lane Bryant, she began dreaming of opening a plus-size fashion store of her own—a dream she made reality on her 30th birthday in 2011 when she opened a boutique in Mounds.

Running her store was rewarding but challenging. To supplement her income, she worked at David’s Bridal and accepted what she thought would be a temporary teaching position at SIU. “I thought it would just be one semester,” she said. “But it became my calling.” She ended up staying seven years, teaching merchandising, design, and styling classes, advising more than a hundred students, and recruiting for the program.

Her love of education carried her into another leadership role when Shawnee College opened an extension center in Cairo. Shelby served as director for nearly three years, working to expand opportunities in her home region. During this time, she also earned a master’s degree in merchandising and retail management, strengthening her academic foundation.

Her personal life revolved around her son, a standout basketball player whose talents drew him to high school in St. Louis. Shelby relocated to support him, working in retail management, including as an assistant store manager at Kohl’s in Bridgeton. Even while away, she kept her home in Cairo and her ties to Southern Illinois. When her son graduated in 2024, she returned full-time, substitute teaching in local schools and managing visuals at H&M in Paducah.

That same summer, Shelby reached out to a friend at Meridian to ask if the district was hiring. The answer came quickly: yes. By the end of the day, she was hired as the new business teacher.

For Shelby, the classroom is more than a place to teach spreadsheets and marketing. It is a place to inspire, motivate, and empower—a motto she lives by. She knows how hard it can be for students in small towns to imagine futures beyond what they see every day. “You’re stronger than you realize,” she tells them. “You’re producing what others produce with far more resources. That makes you powerful.”

Her years in retail and higher education have given her connections across the region and beyond. From stylists who work with celebrities to store managers in Chicago and St. Louis, Shelby has a network she hopes to use for her students. “If I have a student who wants to pursue fashion, I can build a bridge for them,” she said.

Shelby’s commitment to young people extends beyond the school. At First Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo, she once led the youth department with 40 students. Her pastor now calls her work at Meridian “Youth Department 2.0,” recognizing how she continues to nurture and guide the next generation.

Looking ahead, Shelby dreams of building a fashion program at Meridian, blending her passions for design, merchandising, and business. For now, her focus is on helping students see what’s possible, gain confidence, and take the first steps toward their futures.

Her path—from retail to education, from Mounds to St. Louis and back again—shows that careers rarely follow straight lines. But each step has added to the richness of what she offers her students. Shelby Atkinson is proof of what happens when someone takes every experience, every connection, and brings it home to build stronger connections for others.