Title: Academic Counselor
Company: Maricopa Unified School District
Location: Maricopa, Arizona, United States
Jessica Shappie, academic counselor at the Maricopa Unified School District, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academic counseling.
Ms. Shappie has dedicated nearly 10 years to her professional life, spanning several unique paths but with a throughline of expertise and deeply caring for others. That journey began with military duty. Coming from a large family of nine siblings, Ms. Shappie chose to enlist in the U.S. Army to help pay for her college education and because she was inspired by the events of 9/11. In her first enlistment, she was initially stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, before being deployed to Iraq for over a year.
After reentering civilian life in 2010, Ms. Shappie became an admissions coordinator and later a supervisor at a medical detox facility, gaining experience in managing schedules and calendars for multiple individuals. In 2015, she rejoined the military, this time serving as military police with the Arizona Army National Guard. The majority of this second enlistment for Ms. Shappie was devoted to working as a crime analyst with the narcotics division, collaborating directly with detectives in drug investigations. Following that, she spent a short time as a mental health counselor with Maricopa County Correctional Health Services and as a crisis counselor with Horizon Health and Wellness.
Since 2022, Ms. Shappie has contributed as an academic counselor with the Maricopa Unified School District, which encompasses 11 schools and nearly 10,000 students. Her day-to-day responsibilities include creating schedules for new students, guiding those students around the school, and assisting students in crisis or teachers who need help. Ms. Shappie also makes herself available to investigate fights or other incidents, although those negative events are rare. She prioritizes communicating openly with students, including encouraging them to discuss their mental health and address problems before they get out of control.
Throughout her vocational journey, Ms. Shappie has been supported by a strong education, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2014. She obtained a Master of Arts in forensic psychology from The Chicago School (formerly The Chicago School of Professional Psychology) in 2020. Subsequently, Ms. Shappie earned a second master’s degree in general legal studies from The Colleges of Law the same year. Committed to ongoing improvement, she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling through Liberty University.
Known for her contributions as a civic-minded citizen, Ms. Shappie has sought to improve her community through involvement in her local church. She volunteers as an organizer for an annual Thanksgiving food drive. Ms. Shappie has supported The Salvation Army, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and her children’s school through donations. She is also a proud participant in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
Beyond her career, Ms. Shappie is a loving wife and a mother to three children, aged 4, 13 and 15. Outside of work hours, she fills her time with travel, camping, spending time outdoors, watching movies, and attending soccer and baseball games. In addition to completing her third master’s degree, Ms. Shappie’s future goals are focused on continuing to grow her success within her career. In particular, she hopes to offer more counseling services for veterans, law enforcement and active military personnel, utilizing her past experiences to aid others.
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