MNPS Voices: Lieutenant Colonel Martha Shaffer, Air Force JROTC Instructor

Lieutenant Colonel Martha Shaffer has spent much of her life serving others. After a 20-year military career, she has devoted another 20 years to helping young people develop the leadership, discipline, and character they need to succeed.

Shaffer serves as an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) instructor at Maplewood High School while also supporting programs at Antioch, Cane Ridge, Hunters Lane, and McGavock high schools as Metro Nashville Public Schools’ ranking JROTC officer.

“The main purpose of this program is to motivate young people to be better citizens by teaching leadership, discipline, teamwork, and personal responsibility,” she said. “Enrolling in a JROTC class does not require a student to join the military or incur any military service commitment.”

For Shaffer, JROTC is about much more than preparing students for military service. It is about helping them become responsible citizens and giving them skills they can use in college, careers, and everyday life.

Her work includes providing professional development for the district’s Army and Air Force JROTC instructors, helping address questions about federal, state, and local policies, and bringing instructors together to share ideas and best practices.

“Our JROTC instructors are phenomenal and dedicated to the mission of developing citizens of character,” she said. “My role is to bring our unique perspectives together to facilitate the engagement and success of our students. It’s teamwork.”

JROTC cadets study aerospace science and leadership while also organizing community service projects, participating in field trips, leading the Pledge of Allegiance, managing classroom responsibilities, preparing for uniform inspections, and taking part in physical fitness activities.

Service is an important part of their education. Maplewood cadets collectively contribute more than 1,000 hours of community service each year, supporting organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, Purity Farms Charity Race, and Second Harvest. Cadets have also participated in events involving the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, Fisk University, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program, and Wreaths Across America; they can often be seen serving as the Color Guard at games and other events.

A decorated military leader

Shaffer’s own journey to the military began with the encouragement of a high school counselor, who urged her to attend college. She earned an academic scholarship to Mississippi Valley State University and was encouraged to join ROTC. What began as a four-year commitment to military service eventually became a 20-year Air Force career.

That career included two assignments at the Pentagon, one during 9/11, as well as leadership positions in education, training, and operations. As director of operations at Keesler Air Force Base, she oversaw more than 80 military and civilian personnel and a major Air Force training program that graduated more than 3,000 students annually. Her accomplishments earned her the Meritorious Service Medal and other honors.

Her final military assignment brought her to Nashville as commander of an Air Force Recruiting Squadron. She led more than 100 personnel and 40 recruiting offices across six states and served as an Air Force spokesperson at civic, educational, and community events.

Helping students find success

After retiring from military service, Shaffer found an opportunity to continue serving through JROTC. She was invited to speak to JROTC classes and at military events and quickly discovered how much she enjoyed interacting with students.

Since becoming an educator in 2006, Shaffer has focused on building relationships with students.

“Building relationships became my top priority to ensure students have a desire to attend school, gain exposure to opportunities, and learn the discipline required to handle conflict resolution, lead others, and adhere to core values,” she said.

Her work has earned recognition throughout MNPS. Shaffer was named Maplewood’s Teacher of the Year in 2021 and was the MNPS High School Teacher of the Year runner-up that year. She was also honored as a Blue Ribbon Teacher for student growth and teacher leadership.

Still, Shaffer says the greatest reward is seeing what students accomplish after they leave her classroom. She wants cadets to graduate with strong communication skills, integrity, a good work ethic, leadership abilities, and a commitment to serving their communities. JROTC students can also earn elective credits, pursue ROTC scholarships, and build valuable experience through community service.

“My purpose is to ensure every student is truly known and provided the engaging opportunities and desire to obtain a top-notch education and equipped with tools to ensure success,” Shaffer said.

Her commitment to students is also personal. As a twin to a brother who left school at an early age, Shaffer understands the importance of helping young people stay engaged in school and focused on their futures.

“My twin brother is no longer with me, but he met some challenges in school that I recognize in the population we serve,” she said.

Kyle Alexander, who oversees JROTC as MNPS’s Director of Social Studies, Health, Wellness, and Physical Education, has seen firsthand the impact Shaffer has on the district and her colleagues.

“From the beginning, Col. Shaffer has been an invaluable asset,” he said. “I simply could not support JROTC without her support for me and this work.”

Alexander said Shaffer is kind, thoughtful, dependable, and always willing to help. He also praised her willingness to support district events and professional development and her ability to respond to requests with patience and professionalism.

Lessons from a lifetime of service

For Shaffer, working at Maplewood and across MNPS represents a lifetime of service. Her military career gave her the opportunity to lead, while her work as an educator has allowed her to pass those lessons on to a new generation.

She hopes to continue helping students earn internships and college scholarships, find careers they enjoy, pursue higher education or military service, and become productive citizens with strong work ethics.

“To give our best to students, teaching with rigor and relevance, is our moral obligation,” Shaffer said. “It is a pleasure to develop young leaders prepared not only to survive, but to thrive in a society where they can be productive and contribute to their own success.”