LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Christopher Gibbs was nominated anonymously.

Mr. Gibbs is passion-fueled and data-driven! Mr. Gibbs is the most passionate, dedicated, and inspiring educator. He is classified as a highly effective teacher and has a perfect VAM score, meaning students are learning and making gains year after year. Mr. Gibbs is a fifth-grade reading and social studies teacher to 46 amazing fifth-graders at a Title One school in Daytona Beach, Florida. He goes beyond teaching to create a positive and inclusive learning environment that motivates all students to reach their full potential. He has a unique way of gaining student interest by making reading easily adaptable.

Mr. Gibbs has added to the culture of his current school and district. He noted an issue with students' knowledge of how to integrate the reading Benchmarks and take efficient notes. So, he took it upon himself to conduct a case study, and as a result, he created a One-Page note method for teaching reading. He has implemented this, conducted professional development, and shared this at the school, district, and state levels. The impact of using this framework is remarkable.

Mr. Gibbs' 46 students recently took the district Benchmark assessment, which mimics student performance on the State of Florida Progress Monitoring test. Eighty percent of his students were proficient; the average school was 11 points higher than the district. These test scores speak wonders! He is the teacher to 46 students who come from complex families. Mr. Gibbs makes sure no student is left behind, and that every student knows their potential and raises to their individual goals!

"I encourage you to step inside his classroom. Observe. It will make you want to be in fifth grade again," said the nominator.