GRANTS, N.M. — On May 28, 2025, the Grants-Cibola County Schools celebrated years of dedication and service at their end-of-year awards banquet, and among those honored was Anissa Shaver, who marked her 10th year with GCCS and her 26th year in education overall.
Shaver, a Drama and English instructor at Grants High School, received a plaque recognizing her decade of service to the district— but her influence reaches far beyond the classroom walls. As the school’s drama teacher, Shaver has built a vibrant theater program that has opened doors for students across Cibola County.
From organizing student trips to Broadway performances at Popejoy Hall to helping them experience live theater in smaller venues across the state, Shaver has given her students a front-row seat to the world of performing arts. Her work has empowered students to find their voice, gain confidence, and develop a love for literature, expression, and storytelling.
As an English teacher, she’s also championed literacy and critical thinking, inspiring generations of students to not only analyze stories, but to tell their own. Whether in the pages of a novel or under the lights of a high school stage, Shaver continues to be a guiding force.
Congratulations to Anissa Shaver for this milestone— and for the countless ways she’s shaped the hearts and minds of her students over the past 26 years.