LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Michael Morris was nominated by a colleague, Kristen DeSantis. 

"Michael Morris is the kind of teacher we all should be lucky enough to have in our lives," said DeSantis.

Each morning, the students coming into the school prioritize finding Mr. Morris before they make their way to the homeroom. Why? Mr. Morris sees them and actively participates in his regular instruction and in finding out what each student is passionate about. He does his best to incorporate that in his classroom. His presence truly makes a difference in the lives of his students.

While his topic of instruction is primarily Media Arts, Mr. Morris does not limit his teachings to just that.

"So far this school year, I have seen Mr. Morris encourage one student's passion for piano by bringing in a keyboard and letting them play through our dismissal and perform at lunch, and another for their passion for becoming a DJ," said DeSantis. "He ensures they have the tools they need to follow their dreams and creates opportunities for them to expose their crafts to a broader audience, such as having them perform at our fall festival."

Mr. Morris often uses his professional network to give students opportunities to work on other film sets. He encourages them to use their craft to make a difference by allowing them to film documentaries if they so choose. Last year, in addition to each class film project, several of his students did a side project and filmed a documentary to bring attention to the homeless population in Atlanta. They called different shelters, asked for a list of needs, and then asked for donations to support them. They also interviewed one of the shelter directors. It was their idea; he just supported and advised them through it. He went with them on a weekend to do their interviews and deliver the donations. His passion extends beyond the classroom, and his impact is felt throughout the school and the surrounding community.

"In addition to his passion for the kids, Mr. Morris also works with each of our other teachers to integrate the arts into their subjects. He understands that not every child learns the same way, and he wants to make sure that when the kids are studying subjects such as Math, English, or Science, teachers incorporate the arts to help cement the ideas, which helps students retain the information and also improves test scores," said DeSantis.

Mr. Morris leads his students by example. He holds them to the same standards of expectation as he holds himself. Mr. Morris teaches them at a pivotal age to be responsible and follow through on their commitments. He groups them to work on projects to develop teamwork and to learn to support their peers. Mr. Morris genuinely believes that with hard work, anything is possible. He knows personally what it's like to make a future from humble beginnings and encourages his students to follow their dreams and work for what they want out of life. Mr. Morris knows that everyone needs someone in their corner to believe in them. He is that person for students and teaches them to do that for one another. Mr. Morris does not tolerate anyone acting in a derogatory manner towards others. He will stand up for those who may otherwise feel they don't belong and find a place for them that encourages them to find their creativity.

"While Mr. Morris has been with Utopian Academy for over eight years, this is my second year working with him at this new location. He was hand-selected to support this new school, and it's evident that he was the perfect choice. As a child, I was that kid who learned differently, and I felt invisible through every step of primary education. If just once I had a teacher like Mr. Morris, the impact it would have had on my life would have been immeasurable," said DeSantis.

His passion for not only what he teaches but also for supporting the kids in their dreams can and does change their personal beliefs about themselves. 

"In just over a year, I have seen time and time again how he believes in every one of them, and it is inspiring to see how their self-confidence improves," DeSantis added.

Mr. Morris goes out of his way to make sure his students have every opportunity to make their futures bright. Beyond the school, Mr. Morris wrote the textbook used throughout Utopian Academy for the Arts schools and other schools in the area that are trying to teach Media Arts. His passion for what he does is infectious, and his drive to go above and beyond while remaining humble reflects this.

"Last year, he organized a film festival for our kids and the kids at our other three schools. The festival featured films that the students wrote and directed themselves. We rented three large ballrooms, and the turnout was beyond capacity. This year, he has already begun to pivot and find a larger location as he will continue the tradition and grow the festival to ensure that our kids have every opportunity to grow their passions beyond the classroom and make a difference in the world," said DeSantis. "I felt compelled to nominate Michael Morris as a LifeChanger because I witnessed daily how he changed the lives of the kids he worked with. I can't imagine a more deserving individual," DeSantis said.