If you ever doubt the impact a teacher can have on a student, just ask Shawna Malarski. A full-time Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) substitute at Northside ISD, Shawna’s journey to becoming a certified teacher was not just about achieving her dream career, but also unexpectedly led her to make a life-changing decision.

Shawna’s story began about three years ago when she was looking for a job with a flexible schedule. “Before this, I was a stay-at-home mom, and then when most of my children graduated, I started working at Chick-fil-A,” Shawna said. But soon, she craved a change. That’s when she got hired as a substitute teacher with a flexible schedule and was offered a position in the ALE classroom at Briscoe Middle School.

Initially overwhelmed by the new role, Shawna quickly found her passion for teaching and working with the children. “Within a few minutes of being in here, I knew I absolutely loved it, and I knew I wanted to be here all the time,” Shawna shared.

Despite feeling uncertain at first, Shawna received support from her co-teacher, Mrs. Holcomb, and with her background serving in the U.S. Army, Shawna found that she had the patience and skills needed to excel in her new role.

As Shawna worked towards becoming a certified special education teacher, she encountered a life-changing moment. A student she had taught, who was a foster child, ended up being available for adoption. Shawna felt a strong connection with the girl and decided to take the leap and adopt her. Now, they are on the brink of officially becoming a family.

As Shawna prepares to become a full-time special education teacher and welcome a new member into her family, she hopes her story inspires others to never give up on finding their purpose. “Anything those kids put their minds to, they can do,” Shawna said. “Nothing is impossible.”