Shelina Warren

Shelina enlisted in the United States Army Reserves at just 17 years old after getting permission from her parents. She was inspired by her maternal grandfather, who was a Buffalo Soldier in World War II, and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Shelina trained as an allied trade specialist and dental specialist, earning both the Army Humanitarian Medal and the Army Commendation Medal while supporting relief efforts in Guatemala following Hurricane Andrew. Her military experience also instilled in her the values of leadership, selfless service, and teamwork — principles she now teaches her students.

While training as a soldier, Shelina pursued her bachelor’s in education from Arkansas State University. Her military service complemented her teaching aspirations perfectly, as she embraced Army core values on the weekends and planned how she would integrate them into her classroom during the weekdays. After graduating, she took her first teaching job and began honing her teaching style and approach based on the skills she had learned in the military. As a result, many of her students joined the military via ROTC or enlisting after high school.

Shelina now lives in Washington, D.C., where she is a high school teacher and the director of a Law and Public Policy Academy. She hopes to show inner city youth how to use their voice and actions to improve their community and the world around them. As their strongest advocate, she works tirelessly to connect them with people, places, and opportunities that will benefit them in the long run.

With the support of the Pat Tillman Foundation, Shelina earned her Doctorate of Educational Leadership in Urban Education from John Hopkins University in May 2024. Her dissertation focused on creating democratic classrooms to promote student development and enhance teacher effectiveness.