LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Alejandra Camack was nominated by her principal, Wendy Banegas.

As the school counselor for Presa Elementary School, Mrs. Camack demonstrates leadership, ethics, and care in all she does. She is a natural born leader, a positive role model, and a LifeChanger to everyone she meets. Not a day goes by where Mrs. Camack is not called upon for her superior leadership and guidance. Staff and students have the utmost respect for her because she is professional and is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Mrs. Camack oversees and delivers her schools' "Random Acts of Kindness" curriculum to students. She models what she teaches with every interaction she has with adults and students. She has also helped write and develop lessons about kindness for the entire school district. All summer long, Mrs. Camack works tirelessly to provide videos and lesson plans for every teacher within the district. She has transformed the culture of her school into one of kindness and thoughtfulness. The school walls are covered in positive inspiration and acts of kindness posters. She believes that kindness must be embedded in everything the school represents.

"Our students flock to see Mrs. Camack," Banegas said. "They love her sense of humor and down-to-earth way of relating to them. You can hear her laughing in the hallways, joking with students and putting the adults at ease, as well. She calls herself the 'Lesson Counselor.'  She knows that listening is not enough to help these students. She makes sure that when they leave her office, they leave with strategies and exercises that develop real-world coping skills. Mrs. Camack understands that the world is not as kind and protective to people as elementary school settings, so she makes sure that our students have skills that work outside our walls. Sometimes the heaviest issues these students are dealing with take place at home."

Some students at Presa Elementary School deal with violence, divorce, bullying,  personal tragedies, and much more.  Mrs. Camack will drop everything to help these students navigate through whatever life often throws at them. Parents of students even go to Mrs. Camack for advice as well. Every parent leaves Mrs. Camack's office feeling validated, heard and helped. They often come back for her parent presentations and keep in touch with her long after their children have left the school. These actions speak to the level of respect Mrs. Camack has created in her community.

Mrs. Camack takes on every kind of leadership position she can, whether it be on campus or for the district.

"On our campus, she is part of my leadership team, and I will not make an important decision without soliciting her opinion first," Banegas said. "I trust her judgment because she always has our best interest at heart. Many times, I have to search for her on campus because she is either hosting our 'Girl's Lunch Bunch' group or working with our student Leadership Group. 

Girl's Lunch Bunch is a group that helps young girls build confidence and character. The topics they discuss are always confidential, but include everything from dating and body language to mannerisms and clothing. Many of the girls look to Mrs. Camack as a role-model.

She's also head of the student leadership group. In this group, students work on proper presentations, successful mannerisms and altruistic acts of kindness such as cancer fund-drives and Christmas bell ringers for the Salvation Army. Mrs. Camack makes leaders out of her students in hopes that they will carry those skills with them to become successful, contributing adults. 

"Mrs. Camack's leadership doesn't stop at our doors," Banegas said. "She is on our district's counselor leadership group, our grief counseling team and our counselor mentorship program. Districtwide, everyone knows Mrs. Camack can be counted on to guide and lend any support that any other school needs. Last year alone, she spent several days off campus working on grief counseling when schools lost teachers or students to tragedies. She is always the epitome of creating a nuturing environment, where both students and teachers know they can share with her without judgment."

When Banegas and Mrs. Camack were first assigned to Presa Elementary School, they noticed that there was not a 504 program in place. Mrs. Camack couldn't believe the need for these individualized educational services. For instance, there was one student who has severe diabetes, but could not be provided with the help he needed to succeed. Mrs. Camack saw the urgency of providing accommodations for him through a 504, and for the first time in his life, he was able to pass all three state exams. 

She has intervened when students are dealing with cyber-bullying and provided ways for students to ensure incidents did not devour their confidence. Mrs. Camack is not afraid to confront problems that affect students. She has even helped identify several special needs students and has provided food and clothing for families in need. She often buys shoes, socks and clothing with money out of her own pocket to provide students with necessities. During the holidays, she took up a collection to help the Humane Society. Mrs. Camack also leads the school food drives, and ran a Pasta for Pennies fund-raiser when she learned about a student who had leukemia.

"I have witnessed her offer to buy a microwave for an elderly volunteer who had no way of heating up her food at home," Banegas said. "The only thing bigger than her heart are the ideas she generates to make our students and our campus one of the best in El Paso. I would take her anywhere I go because I have never had the honor of working alongside a counselor of her caliber."

Mrs. Camack has won many awards for her hard work, such as the CREST and LSSSCA awrds.

"She always feels her work is never enough and is constantly re-evaluating ways to make things better for myself, the students and their families," Banegas said. "I have been in this profession for 27 years and I cannot think of a counselor who is more of a LifeChanger than Alejandra Camack. She has changed my life and the lives of many children. Her endless energy and compassion makes her challenge herself to be the best, year after year. I am honored to work with her."