Today we’d like to introduce you to Terance Shipman.
Dr. Terance Shipman is a 26-year veteran teacher. He spent much of his teaching career working with elementary-aged students. In fact, he spent his first 11 years teaching kindergarten! He is proud to say that he built strong relationships over those years and has an incredible network of students, their parents and his co-workers with whom he remains in contact. Dr. Shipman calls this ever-developing network “Team Shipman.” Through Team Shipman, Dr. Shipman offers continual encouragement, leadership, and mentorship to his students, their families, and his professional peers. Dr. Shipman currently teaches middle school and extends membership to Team Shipman to his current students and their families, as well.
Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles are the stories of teaching kindergarten that make Dr. Shipman smile the most when he thinks about his years teaching kindergarten. Each book in the series celebrates the male teacher, in particular the black male teacher. Acknowledging the under-representation of black men in education, through his first series of books, Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles, Dr. Shipman hopes to make kindergarten an exciting and anticipated adventure for students, parents, and teachers, while casting an even wider net for Team Shipman. Team Shipman Publishing has expanded in publishing four new authors, Prudence Williams Shipman, Dr. Cheryl Anderson, Nastasha Johnson and Nancy Carol Larry.
Dr. Shipman received his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the Tuskegee University in 1992. After obtaining this degree, he attended Hampton University in Virginia and obtained a Master’s degree in Elementary Education in 1994. For the next 13 years, Dr. Shipman was an elementary teacher in Atlanta Public School System. Most of his time at APS was spent as a kindergarten teacher, and in 2009 he earned his Educational Specialist degree from University of West Georgia in Administration Supervision and soon after he completes his doctoral degree at Clark Atlanta University in 2013. Since completing his final degree, Dr. Shipman has worked with middle school and high school-aged students. And through it, all Team Shipman is still growing! He is married to Prudence Williams Shipman. They have one daughter, four sons and one grandson.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth road? No, there have been many learning experiences on this journey into the book publishing world. But I’m Not Giving Up!
1. I had to decide if I wanted to just write a book or make this a business.
2. I make sure to pray, plan, act, and reflect.
3. I have made many mistakes but I’m encouraged: these mistakes meant I was getting closer to making it.
Building an audience
1. I did and continue to do my research!
2. I keep learning from others!
3. Tried different marketing strategies; there is no magic pill.
Facing realty
1. There are times when you won’t sell one book in days, weeks, or even months.
2. Book signing is a must, but I’ve learned to make sure that whatever event I participate offer profit opportunities.
3. There’s nothing like signing books for smiling faces.
The Good & Bad
1. Listen to and learn from the good AND the bad reviews!
2. Good reviews make you smile and laugh.
3. Bad reviews make you think and laugh.
Smooth road? No, but God has been with me along this road I travel.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you guys do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
Team Shipman Publishing was started from the decision to self-publish my own books. I knew that I could learn how to publish a book. I also had to learn to run a business also. Mr. Shipman’s Kindergarten Chronicles is the flagship of the publishing company.
My wife, sons, daughter and close friends make up Team Shipman Publishing. Everyone has two or three jobs in the business. We have meetings on ideas and vote on decisions. I have learned to listen and respect our different points of view. The majority vote rules. There are times I have to make executive decisions. I have to live by them, whether I’m right or wrong.
We have published children and poetry books, so far. We are open to other genres, but I want to make sure the writers and books are a good fit for the company. The thing I’m most proud of is our working together as a family. This has made us closer as a family. I’m very thankful that God has blessed me with a beautiful and talented family.
What set us apart was the determination from the beginning to produce a book that looked like a classic children’s book but had a modern look. One of the major differences is that there is an African American male kindergarten teacher on the cover. The children in a distinctly multicultural classroom. That, itself sets the book apart from other books.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe in God. I think God has my life planned but allows me to make choices. I have learned to sit still and listen more as I’ve gotten older. In life and business, I’ve learned to thank God for letting me do his will. Through the good and bad times, I thank God for being where I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.teranceshipman.com
- Instagram: teranceshipman
- Facebook: Terance Shipman
- Twitter: @TeranceShipman
- Other: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thefieldday/mr-shipmans-kindergarten-chronicles-the-field-day
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