Photo courtesy of Shirley Allen
KMS chorus teacher Shirley Allen plays piano during this year’s spring chorus concert. Allen has a knack for motivating her students to excel through high standards, a welcome atmosphere and an optimistic attitude.
Krueger’s Allen motivates students with gusto
By Andrea Roberts
Staff Writer
MICHIGAN CITY – Shirley Allen’s positive attitude goes a long way.
Allen, a chorus teacher at Krueger Middle School, motivates kids to go in new directions each day.
“I love doing music together with kids,” Allen said. “I love to see kids find out who they truly are.”
As a result, she has had many gold medalists throughout the years. One of them is Michigan City High School freshman Jasmine Ford.
Jasmine, who is now in the freshman chorus, performed a solo of “The Sidewalks of New York” at a singing performance in Valparaiso, Ind., in 2022.
She won a gold medal because of her hard work and because she listened to Allen.
“I attribute almost everything to Ms. Allen, because she taught me how to use my lower notes and higher notes without accidentally fracturing my vocal cords,” Jasmine said.
Allen influences students just as she was influenced growing up.
Allen had many influences as a child, such as youth group leaders at church. Her mom, middle school music teacher and hIgh school music teacher also influenced her.
“I always loved music and I was good at it, and those teachers I had in middle school and high school were a big influence,” Allen said.
After being in chorus throughout high school, she moved on to go to Huntington College (now Huntington University), where she studied music education. She earned her master’s degree in education at Wheaton College.
Allen has been working for Michigan City Area Schools for 33 years, ever since she started teaching. She has worked at Krueger Middle School for 12 years.
Allen does so much more than teach chorus. She does Circle the State with Song including its All-State Honor Choir, as well as numerous community performances and solo and ensemble contests.
She also takes seventh and eighth graders to go on concert tours to the elementary schools. In addition, she is part of the Building Leadership Team. She’s the CREW community chairperson at Krueger and last but not least is a member of the district’s CREW council.
Allen does all of this because she cares about each and every one of her students.
“I love to help (students) navigate middle school, but they also helped me,” she said. “I love the fact that they help each other, and we just do wonderful things because we help each other.”
A student who has been impacted by her is eighth grade chorus student Madi Moye.
“Even when she was tired she would still be motivational and give us a motivational speech,” Madi said. “Even if we messed up on our songs or anything, she would explain it to make it better and not criticize it.”
Allen sees potential in all of her students.
“She was tough for good reasons – to help with the vocals,” Jasmine said. “But at the same time, she was easy.”
Allen is able to reach her students because she has relationships with them.
“I have some kind of connection with all my kids in my chorus…there’s trust,” she said.
One of Allen’s former students, Savannah Holley, has blossomed over the years. In 2022, she won first place in her age group at the Hoosier Star singing competition in La Porte.
Holley is now at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music at the Bloomington campus. She also got a solo part in a choir performance that usually only graduates get, even though she is a freshman.
“I knew that Savannah had such amazing potential and (is) just very, very gifted, so I’m thrilled,” Allen said. “But I’m also thrilled for any student of mine that does well in life.”
Allen definitely helps her students improve.
“She taught me how to become a better singer and a better person in life,” Madi said.
Allen’s whole life doesn’t just involve teaching. She likes to swim, bake Italian desserts, workout and listen to music.
Whatever she does, she’s always upbeat. Just ask KMS band teacher George Olson, who has known Allen for more than three decades and bonds with her over their strong faith values.
“Whenever I think about Ms. Allen in the future,” Olson said, “I’ll always remember her positive attitude.”