LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Valencia Denson's nominator wishes to remain anonymous.

In late November 2012, Ms. Denson was named the new principal at Chattahoochee Elementary School. At the time, the school was one of the lowest performing schools in the district, and parental involvement was at an all-time low. When she started, there were three things she wanted to improve: student achievement, parental involvement and the overall perception/culture of the school. Ms. Denson looked at school data to strategize and implement ways to improve them.

First, she increased parental involvement by changing the appearance of certain parts of the school to make it more inviting. She also encouraged parents to get involved and be on committees that promote togetherness as a school community. Second, she changed the school culture by letting the staff have a voice in the every day functions of the school. She learned that people will go to the mountain top if you praise their efforts, so she provided monthly lunches and rewarded staff for their great work.

Her main goal, however, was increasing student achievement. The school had been on the failing list for so long that the Florida Department of Education was required to intervene, and the school was in a turnaround phase. Being a first year principal, Ms. Denson knew she had a challenge. She studied student data and develop a plan of action with the teachers' input. In January 2013, they rolled out their new plan of action, and the school was successful by the end of the year. The school did a huge turnaround, going from a "D" rated school to a "B" rated school. They were only two points from an "A".

The following school year, they continued to model and implement those same goals, and the school made history by receiving a school grade "A" for the first time in its history.

"Today, Ms. Denson still sits at the helm of the school, and they are doing great things in the lives of the students, parents and community," the nominator said.