Hall of Fame
Judy Shelton is the consummate educator, coach and friend to all in Section V. A dual major at SUNY Brockport (BS-1969) and Indiana University (MS – 1973) and attained her SDA at Canisius College (2001). As a teacher she plied her skills in the Webster CSD from 1969 until her retirement in 2002.
As did her interests, her coaching spans many areas including: varsity field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming and softball. Judy was a major part of Monroe County league championships in swimming, basketball and softball as well a basketball Sectional Championship in basketball (1973). While at Indiana University working on her master’s degree she was the assistant coach of field hockey and basketball. She actually coached the current Stanford Basketball coach, Tara VanDerveer and coached in the second ever, AIAW, now the final four. In her ‘semi’ retirement, Mrs. Shelton coaches JV tennis, modified/frosh basketball and modified softball at Mercy.
This all said, Judy Shelton’s greatest influence in Section V and the NYSPHSAA was her devotion to and work with “Operation Offense.” This nationally recognized chemical health and wellness program really took off after Judy attended a national training program at the Hazelden Institute. Under the leadership of Dave Martens and with Judy as the Program Director, Operation Offense offered large group and individualized school presentations on or at: pre-season meetings, coaches and captains workshops, student leadership training programs and coaches awareness workshops.
Early on in the development of Operation Offense it was apparent that more people needed to be trained to assist Judy so she developed a ‘training of trainers’ program. As part of her role in Operation Offense and as the NYSPHSAA Target Committee Chairperson Judy presented at the National Federation Target Board of Directors; appeared on the Doctor Ruth TV show; presented at the Genesee Valley Sports Medicine Symposium; and presented at various National Conferences in New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, New Port, Minneapolis and New York City.
Judy has had several articles published in professional magazines and has been recognized with the US Drug Enforcement Agency Certificate of Appreciation; the National Student Assistant Association’s Most Outstanding Program award as well as the “Outstanding Contributions” recognition by both Section V and the NYSPHSAA.