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Dr. Joseph A. Shivers of Salem has been the 2024 Salem High School Alumni Association Honored Alumnus.
The alumni association will honor Shivers during its 143rd SHSAA Annual Meeting and Scholarship Award Ceremony on Saturday, April 27 in the SHS auditorium. Graduating seniors from the SHS Class of 2024 who have received scholarships from the association will be recognized as the organization will sponsor the event almost a month earlier than in the past.
The 50-year classmates from the SHS Class of 1974 will also be introduced and recognized. As it has been for the last several years, the annual meeting and scholarship ceremony will be held in the SHS auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. with an SHSAA open house in the cafeteria following the program.
Shivers graduated from Salem High School in 1966 and in 1970 he received a bachelor's degree from Baldwin-Wallace College. He continued his education, when he received his teaching certificate from Youngstown State University in 1973 and his master's degree from The Ohio State University in 1982. Shivers attained his Doctor of Education degree from Harvard University in June of 1985.
He served as Salem City Schools superintendent from 2014 through 2019, and presently operates Dr. Joe's Learning Center, L.L.C., where he offers K-12 tutoring, ACT and SAT preparation, and college admissions counseling. He has held numerous leadership positions and maintains an impressive list of professional memberships. Shivers has also written many education-themed articles for publication. He has lived his life with a passionate dedication to improving the learning experience for thousands of students.
Shivers is one of the key individuals who worked to help endow the SHS Class of 1966 Scholarship, which is awarded each year during the SHSAA Scholarship Ceremony. A former Peace Corps volunteer and instructor, Dr. Shivers has taught at St. Paul School in Salem; Pusan National University in Pusan, Korea; Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Newark, Ohio; Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts; and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has held the position of school principal at Kirtland High School; East Palestine Middle School; South Side Middle School and Columbiana High School; and Salem Middle and Salem Senior High School. Other leadership member from 2020 through 2024.
Shivers is married to fellow SHS graduate, Madeline Patton Shivers, SHS Class of 1977. They have two sons who also graduated from Salem -- Joseph P. Shivers, MD, SHS Class of 2006; and Brian D. Shivers, SHS Class of 2009.
Marion Ackerman, SHS Class of 1956, recently donated funds and endowed a new vocational scholarship that will be presented for the first time during this year's program. His generous donation of $100,000 will pave the way for countless Salem graduates to realize their educational dreams. His strong desire to help students who are continuing their educations by attending school to learn a trade led him to endow the new Marion Ackerman Vocational Scholarship.
Alumni and friends are encouraged to attend the ceremony and the SHSAA open house reception that follows the scholarship program. It will be an opportunity for alumni, scholarship recipients, and family and friends to meet and greet each other and congratulate Dr. Joe Shivers. All are welcome and no tickets will be needed for admission to the program or reception that is funded by numerous generous patrons.