Shaffer named principal of Criss Elementary
PARKERSBURG - Adam Shaffer has been named principal of Criss Elementary School.
Shaffer first fell in love with education by watching his mother teach mathematics at Blennerhassett Junior High School. Shaffer attended Blennerhassett Elementary and Blennerhassett Junior High School before graduating from Parkersburg South High School in 2012.
Shaffer went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State University where he also represented the men’s Fighting Falcon’s tennis team. While obtaining his elementary education degree, he received an associates degree in American Sign Language Interpreting and had experience providing language services to school aged children. This would lead him to getting his master’s degree at Marshall University in Special Education and becoming a certified deaf/hard of hearing teacher.
While finishing his masters, Shaffer started his teaching career at Emerson Elementary School where he taught second grade. Shaffer was nominated for Wood County Teacher of the Year in 2020 and became one of six finalists. He went on to obtain his administration certificate and became the school’s Curriculum and Instruction Assistant Principal. While working as a C&I, Shaffer coached tennis for the Edison Middle School boys and girls tennis team and was the head boy’s tennis coach for Parkersburg South. In addition, Shaffer also worked part time for a local social services organization.
“My experiences as a student, teacher, and assistant principal in Wood County Schools has given me a love for lifelong learning,“ Shaffer said. “I look forward to establishing this same passion for learning with the students at Criss Elementary School.”