The person controlling the flow of a basketball or volleyball game is called a playmaker. The brain behind the scripts for a live theatrical performance is called a playwright. Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) hosts nearly 15 events annually to celebrate and acknowledge students, staff and the families who support them, and none of them would be possible without the Department’s playmaker, Shelby Buchtien.  

As the event coordinator for Communications and Creative Services, Buchtien is the woman behind the curtain for major Department gatherings such as Picnic in the Parking Lot, the Education Foundation of Harris County’s annual luncheon and Adult Education graduation. 

“I pour a lot of my heart into each event because I want people to feel appreciated and recognized,” said Buchtien, HCDE’s September Employee of the Month. “Whether it’s the holiday parties or Celebration of Excellence, our employees deserve to feel special. I also get an opportunity to work with our outward-facing divisions, and seeing those events come to light really drives the purpose of what we do at HCDE to support the educational advancement of our community.” 

Buchtien spends months collaborating with host divisions to shape event themes, scout venues, and plan every detail – from the background music to the centerpieces, the dessert bar, and the lavish decorations that make employees’ pictures at the themed backdrops stand out on a Facebook feed. She ensures everything runs smoothly and that guests have a marvelous experience. 

“I call that ‘the Shelby effect’ because everyone here has experienced something that has her fingerprint on it,” Chief Communications Officer Danielle Clark said. “She’s made an indelible impact on this organization, on our morale, the culture and the events that everyone looks forward to.”  

Born and raised in the Cypress community with her three sisters, Buchtien developed a deep love of exploration and creativity under her parents’ influence. Every year throughout her childhood, the family spent two weeks of their summer vacation driving across the country in their RV, exploring national parks, visiting loved ones and creating memories.   

“I remember driving to our destination, and we’d be playing games at the dining table while my mom had the big map out, telling my dad where to turn,” she recalled, laughing at the memory. “I think all the activities we would do to keep us busy contributed to my love for all things crafts and DIY. I love to sew, crochet, punch needle, scrapbook and journal. I love it all!” 

Buchtien attended Texas A&M University intending to study business, but her creative mind had other plans. Earning a degree in Event, Tourism and Recreation, Buchtien put her talents to work as a wedding planner before transitioning to The Briar Club, where she focused on family-friendly events and learned how to transform a vision into memories.  

Those skills became vital in the planning and execution of widely anticipated, well-attended events such as the Early Childhood Winter Conference (ECWC) and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards ceremonies, both hosted by the Center for Educator Success (CES). When Dr. Chandel Bonner-Hancock, the officer of professional learning and student recognition, joined CES in 2025, she began working closely with Buchtien to organize the 40th annual ECWC and immediately found a kindred spirit for new and exciting ideas.  

“I came in with a definite vision for ECWC and knew we wanted to grow the conference and make it impactful for Texas educators and leaders,” Bonner-Hancock explained. “I didn’t know how far I could push Shelby’s creativity, but it was amazing because she responded so easily, and we just hit the ground running.”  

The pair collaborated on everything from conference design and signage to the presenter schedules, vendors and registration. Their meticulous planning and promotion tripled the conference’s size in January compared with the previous year. With more than 1,000 educators and industry leaders under one roof, the conference faced no major challenges and received outstanding reviews from attendees.  

Bonner-Hancock and Buchtien worked together again to organize the Regional Scholastic Art and Writing Award Ceremonies in March for middle and high school students. They introduced several new elements to the recognition event, including selections of three-dimensional art and QR codes that linked to recordings of students reading excerpts from their written creations.  

“Scholastic is one of those events that we get to impact students directly, and I came up with some big ideas that had the potential to go awry,” Bonner-Hancock said. “Shelby was right there with me, without hesitation, trying to figure out how to make this experience magical for students and families.”  

Bonner-Hancock recruited student volunteers to undergo an extensive audition process for the opportunity to serve as the program’s master of ceremonies and stage managers. However, the logistics and day of execution were organized by Buchtien.  

“I’ve learned that no job is too big or small for me and I have to be ready to jump in at any point,” Buchtien said. “This year, we needed a technical director. So, I was backstage at Scholastic, making the calls to bring the lights on at certain times, making sure the students came out on cue and helping close out the event. It’s always awesome watching everything I’ve worked on come to light, and that feeling is what reignites me for the next event.” 

Their bond and trust developed over months of working closely became unmatched, and Buchtien’s direct impact on the success of CES’s two largest events is exactly why the division nominated her for employee of the month.  

“If Shelby came to me and said, ‘We needed to cancel,’ in the middle of ECWC or Scholastic, I would be like, ‘Why? And okay,’” Bonner-Hancock laughed. “That’s how much I trust her! She’s an invaluable part of what we do. I feel that I’m a mentor to her, and at the same time, I learn so much from her daily.”  

Added Clark: “I think the most special part of the employee of the month program is when a division works with someone in a different division, and they recognize their contributions. Shelby calls the Communications division home, but the impact of her work bleeds throughout the entire organization.”  

Buchtien uses all the momentum and inspiration from each event’s success throughout the year to keep pushing herself to find new ways to bring that WOW-factor. But of all the events on her calendar, it’s Picnic in the Parking Lot that brings her the most joy.  

“It’s just the most fun to plan because I get to really branch out,” she said. “Sometimes I start up really high with crazy ideas, like I really wanted to have a dunk tank with members of the Executive Leadership Team being dunked. I’ve also had some silly ideas like somebody that can come and do chalk artwork, and I’ve even considered a bounce house.”  

Despite how much #TeamHCDE might love to see Superintendent James Colbert Jr. or one of the division leaders getting dunked at an employee appreciation event, those out-of-the-box ideas were met on the chopping block. 

“When she comes to me with some crazy stuff, I receive it with an open heart and an open mind and the spirit with which it is presented, which is to have fun,” Clark laughed. “Sometimes we have to rein her in a little bit because she’s out there with her creativity and her ideas, but that’s all part of her charm.” 

From the smallest details to the biggest celebrations, Buchtien’s creativity has become part of the fabric of #TeamHCDE. Her fingerprints can be found in the events employees anticipate throughout the year, but her impact goes beyond the décor, themes and behind-the-scenes logistics. She creates moments that give employees something to look forward to, students and families something to celebrate and the entire HCDE community another reason to come together. As Buchtien continues dreaming about what’s next, her willingness to try something new ensures there will always be another idea around the corner. 

“I would challenge anyone to find a person at HCDE who doesn’t look forward to the Chili Cook Off, or isn’t excited about Convocation,” Clark said. “Shelby Buchtien’s fingerprints and flair are on all those events. She’s taking us to the next level, and I think she epitomizes what it means to be exceptional.”