LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

April Williamson

Position: Third Grade Teacher
School: Saint Joseph Catholic School
School District: Saint Joseph Catholic School
City, State: Fayetteville, AR

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April Williamson was nominated by a parent of a student, Sarah Moore.

"My third-grader, Matthew, was diagnosed with a rare cancerous tumor, Neuroblastoma, when he was 4.5 years old. He went through one of the most extensive and harsh treatment protocols for adults or kids. Due to having to spend so much time in the hospital and travel to multiple states for treatment, his kindergarten start date was delayed by a semester. Due to the need for flexibility, I homeschooled him from kindergarten to second grade. My first interaction with his third grade teacher, Mrs. Williamson, was a few months before his third grade year. I was hesitant and concerned about him potentially transitioning into a brick-and-mortar school. I had worked with Matthew during the summers to catch up on lost time, but he struggled with reading. So, I knew he was still behind the curve in reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. Mrs. Williamson took the time to meet with me and have an honest, thoughtful, and reassuring conversation about him transitioning into their school," said Moore.

"I had been told how amazing of a teacher she is by multiple parents. I didn't realize it until he had her as a teacher. Third grade for my son was emotionally like that of a kindergarten year. It was the first time that he was away from us for longer periods and a very new structure to his day. His teacher has been pivotal in that transition. She is incredibly kind, always speaking words of encouragement to the kids, handing out lots of little prizes, writing encouraging notes, and praising every student," said Moore.

"She never hesitates to make accommodations for Matthew if he struggles with some fidgeting or neck and back pain from being in certain positions. She has excellent classroom management skills, which creates a great learning environment. I have seen Matthew grow academically this year. He is making strong improvements in reading, writing, and spelling. I even see him choosing to create and write on his own now. He is thriving off her classroom and encouragement. At Christmas time, she brought in hand-knit Snowman scarves that her mother made for every student. She goes above and beyond to pour into these students," said Moore.

"Last week, Matthew had to take a trip to Cincinnati for cancer scans, tests, labs, etc (he got clear scans). Mrs. Williamson had the students in his class write notes of encouragement, and then she filled a bag of his favorite treats, snacks, and activities for him to take on the trip. My son Matthew loved every one of the cards and was beaming when opening the bag. She made a stressful situation a little less stressful. Yesterday, a church Sunday school teacher asked our son who in their life is a great example of being nice. The first person he said was Ja'Marr Chase because, of course, he would be nice to his fans. But the other person he mentioned was his teacher, Mrs. Williamson. Not only do we recognize the impact she has, but so has Matthew," said Moore.

"Mrs. Williamson also takes the time to reach out to the parents and let them know about special achievements. One day, after school, she called me to let me know that Matthew had done an excellent job with his reading fluency assignment. She consistently goes above and beyond to love and encourage her students. We could not be more grateful to her for making such a big impact on our son," said Moore. "She is truly a LifeChanger!"

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Comments (4)

Tara Babin Posted over a year ago

Mrs. April Williamson is the perfect teacher to be the Life Changer of the year. She has been an amazing mentor and educator to my twin boys. My boys continue to make decisions based on the knowledge, skill, and love of Christ that Mrs. Williamson has instilled upon them. Mrs. Williamson has a fascinating way of captivating the attention of children. She has creative and unique ways of making learning fun. She has book tastings, spy school, grammar camp, the living museum, and many more exciting lessons! I wish I could have been a student in her class! She is truly deserving of such an honorable award. She has touched the lives of so many students and parents over the years. She is an inspiration to my children, myself and anyone who has ever been her student. She goes above and beyond in and out of the classroom. She has a gift! I am grateful and thankful Mrs. Williamson is being recognized! We love and adore Mrs. Williamson! May she continue to shine her light!

Lauren Spear Posted over a year ago

Mrs Williamson encouraged a love of reading in our son, Grey! Prior to 3rd grade, Grey had self proclaimed that he “hated fiction” and didn’t enjoy reading. Mrs Williamson introduced him to books he loved that were both challenging and entertaining and now he reads for fun. Mrs Williamson was also very in tune to the specific needs of our son and even suggested extra work for him in math proactively after noticing he was often rushing through his work. This was especially encouraging for Grey who often needs a challenge to stay motivated. While I knew this about my son, I was so impressed that Mrs. Williamson also quickly discovered this about him and proactively suggested a unique plan. She genuinely loves her job and her students and it shows. Mrs Williamson also teaches more than purely academic subjects and finds ways to weave in leadership principles such as a developing an opportunity mindset and problem solving skills into her curriculum. She also teaches students responsibility via assigning them research papers and work that they must own without parental micromanagement. Grey not only improved his reading and math skills, but he also gained life skills thanks to Mrs Williamson!

Barry Newell Posted over a year ago

Mrs. Williamson goes to great lengths to make learning not only fun, but something the kids will remember for many years to come. Whether it be a book tasting, spy school, or a surgery to dissect parts of the English language (and many more) she transforms the classroom and has costume accessories for all to fit the theme of the day. The best part is that you can tell she is enjoying herself as much as the students. She gave me multiple suggestions on turning flash cards into games (like playing war with our math facts). She thoroughly grades every paper, in her beautiful handwriting, leaving comments and explanations. I can tell she put so much effort into grading that I sit down with my child and we review every note she made. The children all respect her and know she has their best interest in mind. Mrs. Williamson has the true heart of a teacher.

Lisa Hinrichsen Posted over a year ago

Mrs. Williamson goes above and beyond for her students. She is compassionate but also commands respect. That’s not easy with 3rd graders! She is incredibly experienced, thoughtful, and a wonderful teacher.