LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Naomi Fulton was nominated by a student.

"My favorite subject in school has always been math, but many people know this class doesn't have a lot of variation. There's a formula or theory to hear the teacher discuss for about 30 minutes, and there's little creativity. This routine is what I was expecting when I went into my Functions class in my junior year at Arrowhead High School. However, after meeting my teacher, Mrs. Fulton, I knew this math class would be different," said the student.

"My class was the second hour of the day; most people had little energy to be excited about school, but not Mrs. Fulton. She started each class as if it were her favorite part of the day. She might start with a fun story about what we were learning or a funny thing that happened over the weekend. She would share about her marathons, daily running, or what crazy things her new dog or kids did. Her determination to run at five in the morning also motivated me to run more. My family bought a treadmill that I run on after school, which has improved my life more," said the student.

"Mrs. Fulton used to have a classroom with a few windows, but that year, she moved to one in the middle of the school. I like to have a lot of natural life, so it wasn't easy to see every day. However, to bring more life into the room, Mrs. Fulton put up LED lights along the ceiling and had plants in the back, which many students, myself included, really appreciated. This was something that some teachers wouldn't do, so it made it clear to me that Mrs. Fulton would go the extra mile for her class," said the student.

"One of my favorite parts of her class was knowing I could ask her any questions. In past classes, I was always worried that I was behind the other students or somehow missing the point in every lesson. I was nervous about asking my teachers any questions I had. In Mrs. Fulton's class, I knew she would help me until she was sure I understood completely, so I was comfortable asking questions," said the student.

"One thing I will always remember from her class is a note she wrote on one of my tests. She said I should think about taking an AP class next year, and she would love to have me in her class again. I'm sure she wrote things like this a lot, but it boosted my confidence about academics, and I still have it today," said the student.