LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Lindsay Tillinghast was nominated by a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous.

Ms. Tillinghast is a committed, enthusiastic, dedicated teacher and life-long learner. She is dedicated to self-improvement and growth that creates a synergistic effect, not only in her classroom, but in the Business Department at Lincoln Southeast High School. She shows initiative, commitment, excellence and dedication to her school.

When another club ceased their sponsorship of the LSE Blood Drive, Ms. Tillinghast and her FBLA students volunteered. For the past few years, Ms. Tillinghast has helped promote the blood drive each semester, organizing volunteers and coordinating donor support. She also prepares her FBLA students for competition with weekly after school meetings and trips to various statewide competitive events that enhance their classroom learning. Always striving for excellence, Ms. Tillinghast is thorough with everything she does—volunteer work, lesson plans, committee involvement, FBLA and more. She is an incredible multi-tasker, but the quality of work never suffers. She is dedicated to life-long learning as evidenced by her involvement in professional organizations and professional development.

Ms. Tillinghast places a high priority on professional development in economics and finance. She consistently earns the Nebraska Career Education Conference BEST Award, which recognizes teachers for exemplary participation in professional development, training and associations. She was also awarded Nebraska State Business Education Association (NSBEA) Rookie of the Year in 2012, and serves as the Treasurer of the Nebraska State Business Education Association (NSBEA). She has also been involved in the Foundation for Teaching Economics Professional Teachers Association since 2009 among many other professional associations.

Ms. Tillinghast’s professional development includes Nebraska Career Education Conference (ever year); Common Sense Economics, 2015; Foundation for Teaching Economics Education Economics for Leaders; Right Start Institute, 2011; Economics of Disasters, 2008; and many other business and technology conferences. She recently earned her WISE certification with a 95%. Additionally, she serves on the Rousseau Elementary PTO, is a Nebraska Community Blood Bank Donor and a Trinity Infant and Childcare Board Member.

"Lindsay thinks big-picture and is an incredible team member of the Business Department, sharing her strengths of organization and creativity," the nominator said. "She is future-minded, contributing to our entire school community through her position as Instructional Technology Coach. Lindsay is always thinking about how to improve her lessons, her relationships with students, her contribution to LSE and to the community. She is beyond worthy of the LifeChanger of the Year Award."