The Shirkey School was built in 1882 from the dismantled Cloverdale School and operated until 1905 when it was replaced by the two-room Cowans (Daphna) School. It was located just west of Daphna on what is presently Route 809. Teachers known to have taught at the Shirkey School were:

Ella Hinton
Gabe Showalter
Perry Beery
Celia Curry
Lou Rodeffer
Cammie Neff
Dick Ashby
John Hollingsworth
Kate Welch
Joe Kagey
Ada Baugh (1896-98) note- Ada Baugh later became the first rural school supervisor in Rockingham County, 1919)

(For additional information on this school consult, Old Schools on Linville Creek, Agnes Kline, Park View Press, 1973)