Teaching Experience

TRIO Instructor, NDSU

English Education Specialist (TRIO Student Support Services)

  • Develop individualized instruction for each student in a weekly one-on-one format
  • Guide students through English assignments from conceptualization to final draft
  • Provide supplemental instruction in the scholarly research and writing process
  • Developed unique lesson plans for each student in a weekly one-on-one format
  • Evaluated and adapted students’ study and learning techniques for efficiency and efficacy
  • Collaborated with students to devise a weekly schedule for study in each of their courses

  • Instruct students in evaluating and identifying graduate programs of interest
  • Assist in the development of study schedule for graduate entry exams
  • Guide in the preparation of graduate application materials

2023 Staff Member of the Year

Mrs. Shelton is a great and very helpful advisor, she always answers my questions and checks to ensure everything is going fine academically.
NDSU TRIO Student
Award Nomination Comment
She cares about my well being
NDSU TRIO Student
Award Nomination Comment
She has been supportive of me all through the year even when I was asking questions I thought might seem dumb.
NDSU TRIO Student
Award Nomination Comment
She has been there to help with anything college-wise and listen to my rants about the most random stuff. She is so chill and funny too.
NDSU TRIO Student
Award Nomination Comment
Sally has always been there to help at any moment. She has also looked at programs for me for Grad school since I had such a big course load. Overall she has helped me stay on track and thanks to her I will be graduating next month!
NDSU TRIO Student
Award Nomination Comment

Teaching Philosophy

Although I’ve had the privilege to teach several guest lectures and upper level courses like “Texas Literature” and “Life and Literature of the American South,” the bulk of my teaching experience has been introductory courses with non-majors. While tutoring is a fundamentally different process from teaching, becoming a Level 2 Tutor has deepened my appreciation for the variability of the writing process and the challenges of individuals. I’ve always had an infectious enthusiasm for the written and published word, but over the last few years I’ve also learned to communicate the importance of writing clearly. Beyond the questions of grammar and formatting, I have worked to show students how the revision process is a way to critique and improve our own arguments, identifying our own fallacies and preconceptions. When students learn to critically examine their own worldviews and identify the assumptions their essays take for granted, then I’ve found they’re better prepared for learning and dialogue going forward.

Full Teaching Philosophy

Instructor, Texas A&M University, Dept. of English

August 2015 – December 2020

  • Created and implemented class discussion and activities
  • Facilitated collaborative and individual writing projects
  • Introduced students to foundations of scholarly research and communication
  • Guided students through the fundamentals of technical communication and project design
  • Converted course to collaborative face-to-face hybrid format
  • Developed workshop-based lessons and assignments and curriculum
  • Introduced students to foundations of literary scholarship and approaches
  • Created and implemented multimodal collaborative projects as well as formal essays
  • Developed course material and syllabus based on border texts and current scholarly theory
  • Created and implemented multimodal collaborative projects as well as individual formal essays based on current scholarly approaches to southern, border, and western studies and primary archival research
  • Developed course material and syllabus based on current southern studies scholarship
  • Created multimodal collaborative projects as well as creating and evaluating formal essay assignments
  • Reconfigured course mid-semester due to COVID-19 pandemic and implemented online tools and adapted assignments and evaluative procedures

Student Evaluations

I am not an english major and really don't like reading, however, she made it so interesting and was the kindest professor I think I have ever had! I would definitely take another class with her I love this class and this professor. Especially in the midst of COVID-19, she was so helpful, readily available, and was understanding of how difficult this change is for her students. I loved the books we read, and genuinely enjoyed going to class. It is a hard time, but she made sure to understand our dilemma and our mental states in her class, while also making class enjoyable and manageable. Definitely one of my favorite TAMU professors.
Southern Lit
Student Evaluation
During class discussions she would listen to student's ideas, regardless of how radical or simple they were. She organized the class in such a way that incorporated everyone's input throughout discussions
Writing About Literature
Student Evaluation
very good class!! prof was very helpful and explained things well. I am not an english major and writing is not my best subject, however I still enjoyed this calss and learned a lot. would reccomend for all majors.
Southern Lit
Student Evaluation

Guest Lectures, Texas A&M University, Dept. of English

Survey of English Literature I, Fall 2012
“Introduction to Spenser’s The Faerie Queene” (series of two lectures)

Shakespeare, Spring 2013
“The Sexualization of Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello”

Shakespeare, Spring 2014
“The Green World of Shakespeare’s King Lear”

Writing about Literature, Fall 2016
“Ballads in Digital Tradition” 

American Novel since 1900, Summer 2017
“Tony Morrison’s Beloved” (series of three lectures)

Graduate Assistant/Grader, Texas A&M University, Dept. of English

Aug 2012 – May 2014

  • Administered and graded exams
  • Communicated with students as first point of reference
  • Formulated and implemented attendance system
  • Developed and delivered class lecture on two occasions
  • Evaluated and graded formal essays
  • Communicated with students as first point of reference
  • Formulated and implemented attendance system
  • Developed and delivered a class lecture
  • Graded exams in online format
  • Communicated with students as first point of reference

Student Evaluations (cont.)

Great course from a great insructor! Stimulating topics and creative ways of going about them. Would definitely recommend Sally Schutz to anyone!
Writing About Literature
Student Evaluation
I really enjoyed this class and the material that I learned throughout it this semester. Professor Schutz's teaching style was helpful and comprehensive.
Southern Lit
Student Evaluation
I learned a lot about my writing from this class, but I also learned a lot about how I read and how I could be reading deeper into texts.
Writing About Literature
Student Evaluation
I love taking a course from her! She is an excellent teacher that displays her passion for her job.
Writing About Literature
Student Evaluation
Professor Schutz was a thoughtful, engaging, and compassionate professor who actively engaged with the class and had a genuine passion for the subject. I appreciated her understanding and kindness amidst the chaos of COVID19 and her flexibility. I would recommend her to anyone else as a professor!
Southern Lit
Student Evaluation
she is a nice person and tries to be as clear as she can be she is also very knowledgeable and kind when it comes to essays, she hits you hard but its for your own good, i appreciate that overall a tough prof but i enjoyed her class i didn't really enjoy true grit as much as i thought i would
Writing About Literature
Student Evaluation

Other Skills and Experience

My work as a Master Tutor (Level Three) has provided additional insight and tools for helping non-majors improve their own writing and editing process. I’ve also pursued training and certifications in digital humanities and complementary skills. Follow the link below for a more complete list of my professional experience as a writing consultant and researcher.

  • Master Tutor (Level Three) Texas A&M University Writing Center
  • “Out of the Box Text Analysis for Digital Humanities,” 2016
  • “Sounds and Digital Humanities,” 2016
  • “Digitisation Fundamentals and their Application,” 2017
  • “Github, command-line, oXygen, TEI, HTML, css, DIY Digital Editions,” Fall 2016
  • “Python within the Context of Digital Humanities,” Spring 2017
  • Assist in developing datasets using Microsoft Excel for digital humanities manuscript
  • Edited online digital humanities archive, Millican “Riot”, 1868
  • Devised training modules for introductory elements of the writing process
  • Developed interactive, multimedia lessons on composing introductions and comprehending writing prompts which are now in use across the university