The Redhound Service Award Resilience Winner, Shawn Freeman

Some stories of resilience are loud. Others are found in the quiet decision to get up, put on a smile, and keep showing up for the people who are counting on you.

At Corbin Primary School, Shawn Freeman has shown us what that kind of resilience looks like.

Shawn was recently recognized with the Redhound Way Service Award for Resilience during our Classified Appreciation Breakfast. The award celebrates classified employees who bring the traits of The Redhound Way to life through their daily work and service to others.

For Shawn, resilience isn't about pretending that difficult things aren't difficult. It is about continuing to serve others even when life is difficult.

Shawn has faced significant personal challenges, including a diagnosis of breast cancer and surgery. Yet throughout that journey, the people around her continued to see the Shawn they have always known: smiling, caring, encouraging, and showing up for others.

She continued working until the day before her surgery. And when she was able to return, she came back—not only to her regular work, but to serve students through the summer food program.

Why?

Because Shawn cares deeply about her students and coworkers.

Every day, she greets students with warmth and kindness. She gives hugs. She makes children feel loved and reminds them that they are seen and valued. She notices when a coworker needs help and looks for ways to make someone else's day a little easier.

Even while facing battles of her own, Shawn has continued to give others a smile, a kind word, or a hug.

That is what makes her resilience so powerful.

Her coworkers describe her as a light to those around her—a person whose courage, positivity, and selflessness encourage others to keep going, support one another, and give their best.

Shawn's story reminds us that resilience doesn't always mean overcoming a challenge quickly or easily. Sometimes, resilience means continuing to be the person you are called to be in the middle of the challenge.

It means choosing kindness when you could choose discouragement.

It means choosing to serve when you could focus only on yourself.

It means showing up, again and again, because the people around you matter.

Shawn Freeman has shown our Redhound family that strength can look like a smile, a hug, a helping hand, or simply being there.

She kept showing up—and in doing so, she became an example of resilience for everyone around her.

That is The Redhound Way.