LifeChanger of the Year Grand Prize Winner 2012-2013!

Position: Custodian

School: Trinity High School

School District: Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District

City, State: Euless, TX

About the LifeChanger Grand Prize Winner: Mr. Clark is a mentor to countless kids in need of a father figure at Trinity HS. He took the position as custodian thinking he would keep at it until he could find something better, but 24 years later, he still hasn’t found it.

When he sees someone who is struggling and needs help, he reaches out and gives them the support and encouragement they need, even taking some of the kids in and fostering them himself. He tells them to make good decisions and not let anyone else define who they are. He holds the students to very high standards and shows them that he genuinely cares, and is not there just for a paycheck. As a result, the students don’t want to disappoint him, work hard and eventually succeed.

Find out more about him on CBS 11′s Texans with Character Segment 1 and Segment 2.

Charles Clark is the 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year Grand Prize Winner! He was announced as the winner of the $10,000 cash award, $5,000 of which will be donated to Trinity High School, at an awards ceremony on March 8th, 2013, in Key Biscayne, Florida. His win was featured on The Washington Post, WFAA and KRLD and here are pictures from the ceremony:

In February 2013, we surprised Mr. Clark at his school to announce that he was a 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year Top 3 Finalist: read about the announcement at HEB ISD website, and click the pictures below to enlarge.

Below is a short video below supporting Mr. Clark’s nomination:

LifeChanger of the Year First Runner Up 2012-2013

Position: 4th Grade GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Program Teacher

School: Edwin Rhodes Elementary School

School District: Chino Valley Unified School District

City, State: Chino, CA

About the LifeChanger: Mr. Scott Rossen is brilliant with children. They adore him. He treats them with respect and is always so patient with them. He understands that each student is different and one mold does not fit all. He takes the time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each and every student and then works with them in the way that is most appropriate. He also takes the time to answer any questions that the parents have. He is always approachable. Mr. Rossen started the “Green Team” for his school and meets with a group of students every Friday morning before school to plan various ways to save energy and be more green. The school cut down energy usage by 29%! Above all this, Mr. Rossen is a wonderful person with a very good heart.

We surprised Mr. Rossen at his school to let him know that he is a 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year Top 3 Finalist! Read more about the announcement at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Champion Newspapers.

As a top three finalist, Mr. Rossen attended the awards ceremony in Key Biscayne, Florida, on March 8th, where he was announced as the 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year 1st Runner Up.

LifeChanger of the Year Second Runner Up 2012-2013

Position: 7-12th Grade Special Education Teacher

School: Harwood Union High School

School District: Washington West Supervisory Union

City, State: South Duxbury, VT

About the LifeChanger: Maureen Charron-Shea, a speech-language pathologist with over thirty years of experience, has redefined what inclusion means in classrooms around her school district, Vermont, and the country. She sees inclusion as a social justice issue and her work has lead to greater access to learning opportunities and higher self-esteem for students with disabilities. Mrs. Charron-Shea once taught students with special needs in basements and in closets. Six years ago, she began a service-learning project on top of her daily work load, which challenged the status quo. The national award winning project is called Speak Out For Understanding and it offers young people the opportunity to speak out for social justice. Students, educators, parents, and community members are asked to share personal stories to promote understanding and tolerance. These stories are conveyed in books, music, poetry, public service announcements and two documentaries. They expose problems with discrimination, stereotyping, learning, and social isolation. Through this important work, students with disabilities no longer accept labels, but rather become empowered as they share stories publicly and with great pride. This project has rejuvenated Mrs. Charron-Shea’s energy and belief in public education becoming the great leveler — whereby everyone is valued as an individual and a learner. Her school is  to have such an influential and dedicated educator, who is a wonderful resource for colleagues, parents, and students.

As a top three finalist, Mrs. Charron-Shea attended the awards ceremony in Key Biscayne, Florida, on March 8th, where she was announced as the 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year 2nd Runner Up.

Earlier this spring, we surprised Mrs. Charron-Shea at her school to let her know that she was a 2012-2013 LifeChanger of the Year Top 3 Finalist! Watch it happen on WCAX or read about it on The Valley Reporter, Waterbury Record, and Burlington Free Press.

We also took pictures, click to enlarge them:

Position: 6th-8th Grade Chorus Teacher

School: Henderson Middle School

School District: DeKalb County Schools

City, State: Atlanta, GA

About the LifeChanger: Mr. Duncan has taught at Henderson for years. He has made a difference in the lives of students in many ways. He always makes sure that his kids have fun, are not left out, and feel great about themselves no matter what.

We showed up at the school’s media center and surprised Mr. Duncan with the news that he is one of the seven 2012-2013 LifeChangers of the Year. Watch the surprise on 11Alive.

You can read about the announcement on Tucker Patch, NorthDruidHills-Briarcliff Patch, and Dunwoody Crier. Charlie Harper’s column featuring Mr. Duncan was published online by Peach Pundit, Albany Journal, and Ledger-Enquirer. Mr. Duncan’s nomination was also covered by NorthDruidHills-Briarcliff Patch and NeighborNewspapers.

Position: Principal

School: James A. Foshay Learning Center

School District: Los Angeles Unified School District

City, State: Los Angeles, CA

About the Nominee: Yvonne Garrison Edwards is an advocate for children and a strong supporter of her teachers. She leads by example. Yvonne encourages her staff to work with the “whole” child, for example supporting the efforts to keep her kids academically and physically challenged through the Read to Achieve and Get Fit programs. The school also has successful mentoring programs on campus for foster youth and gang prevention. Foshay is a living example of what is right with public education and Yvonne Garrison Edwards is the kind of leader who puts kids first and continues to create a positive learning environment where her students can succeed and thrive.

Position: Superintendent

School: N/A

School District: Houston Independent School District

City, State: Houston, TX

About the LifeChanger: Dr. Terry B. Grier has served as Superintendent of the 204,000 student Houston Independent School District (HISD) since September 2009. He has successfully brought together others to serve as co-architects of plans to positively change the lives of Houston’s children. HISD has started a “Breakfast in The Classroom” program that provides free breakfast to students. Last year, Dr. Grier helped raise over $200,000 to provide free eye exams and glasses to disadvantaged elementary students. To address low performing students, HISD started an ambitions turnaround program aimed at the district’s lowest performing schools, implemented “Graduation Labs” that allows students to make-up previously failed courses on line, and opened small “Twilight High Schools” that allow students to complete courses in the evenings and on Saturday. Led by Dr. Grier, all 35 HISD high schools now offer a minimum of 15 AP courses. During his tenure in Houston, the dropout rate has been cut in one-half and the graduation rate has increased. Dr. Grier has changed the lives of thousands of Houston children!

We surprised Dr. Grier to let him know that he is one of the 2012-2013 LifeChangers of the Year!

Position: 5th Grade Teacher

School: Ethel Staton Elementary School

School District: Clark County Public Schools

City, State: Las Vegas, NV

About the LifeChanger: Ms. Pesco is an exceptional educator. She recognizes when students are struggling and puts them in intervention programs, tutoring them after school in her spare time (and dime) to make sure they get all the help they need. Yet she never lowers her expectations, continuing to teach at a rigorous level because she believes in each and every student. Former students want to come back to visit her, the teacher who changed the course of their educational careers. Ms. Pesco has also lead professional development days for the staff, and other teachers go to her for ideas and advice on how to meet their students’ needs. Ms. Pesco is talented in her craft and compassionate to the students who come through her doors. She is top notch!

We suprised Ms. Pesco at her school to let her know that she is one of our 2012-2013 LifeChangers of the Year! Read more on the CCSD website, KSNV and Review Journal.

Position: 8th Grade Science and Maths Teacher

School: Crest Middle School

School District: Cleveland County Schools

City, State: Shelby, NC

About the LifeChanger: Mr. Soash is an enthusiastic, energetic, and caring teacher teacher. He is dedicated to the “whole” student and school community. In his classroom, Soash conducts many meaningful science activities. Students use GPS units, excavate fossils, and act out molecular motion. In addition to teaching, Soash coaches cross country and track, started an indoor track team, and volunteers as running club sponsor during the summer. He volunteered several days to help build a cross country course, so that the school could host its first meet in over 46 years. He also tutors students and many parents praise him for inspiring their children to become better athletes and better students. Mr. Soash organized a 5K race “Strides for Seth” at his school in which 485 people participated in honor of an 8th grader who had been diagnosed with cancer. The race raised $15,700 for Seth’s family.

We surprised Mr. Soash, one of the 2012-2013 LifeChangers of the Year, at his school during a Valentine’s Day pep rally! Read more about it at WBTV, Charlotte Observer, or Cleveland County Schools, or click below for pictures:

Position: 6th Grade Teacher

School: Beachside Montessori Village

School District: Broward County Public Schools

City, State: Hollywood, FL

About the Nominee: Ms. Turner teaches World History and also runs the school’s Drama Club. In her efforts to expose children to the arts, she has put on extraordinary performances involving students from Kindergarden to 8th Grade, improving the sense of community amongst them as well as their self-confidence and self-worth. Handling a cast of 100 students is no easy task, but Ms. Turner manages it beautifully. She is not just a teacher to her students, but also a mentor and a friend.

Position: 12th Grade AP Biology

School: West Orange High School

School District: Orange County Public Schools

City, State: Winter Garden, FL

About the Nominee: Mrs. White is more than just your average teacher. She takes time to get to know each and every one of her students and is a positive role model, strong leader and an inspiration. She has been on curriculum writing teams, textbook adoption committees, even mentoring other teachers. She helps students whenever she can, be it before school or during lunch. She is kind-hearted and fun-loving with intense passion and energy for her students and for teaching.

We surprised Mrs. White at her school to let her know that she is one our 2013-2013 LifeChangers of the Year! Congratulations!
Read about the announcement on West Orange Times.