LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dean Garrett was nominated by Samantha Schultz. 

Mrs. Garrett is dedicated, committed, and reliable. For nearly five decades, she has been the first face many staff and students see walking into the school. Mrs. Garrett has dedicated 47 years to being the school's gatekeeper. She comes with kindness as well as tough love. She has been the steadfast anchor, helping in any way she can.

"I attended this school. It's a K-12 school. It sits in a small but mighty town nestled just 2 miles above the state of Alabama. Mrs. Garrett is an exemplary example of a LifeChanger of the Year nominee," said Schultz. "She's their silent hero who continues to show up daily."

Mrs. Garrett works alongside her sister, Louise, who began working as a secretary years ago. Her knowledge of school history, policies, and the faculty and students' individual quirks has made her an invaluable resource. She has witnessed countless milestones, shared in triumphs, and provided a steady hand during challenging times. In addition to dedicating 47 years of her career to this school, she also attended and graduated high school at Huntland.

"I can't even begin to name all she has done for the staff and students. She's a dedicated worker, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and many other titles. My interactions with her started from the first day of kindergarten to graduating from high school. I always loved going by her office and saying hi. Sometimes, she had to show tough love to us, but it made us love her even more. We knew how she felt about us. She was a basketball player, and although she didn't play high school basketball, it never stopped her love of the game. At every home game (except for the ones she had to miss), she was the first face people saw when buying a ticket to enter. I visited Huntland School recently; she was the first face I saw that day, sitting alongside her sister. I can't imagine a more dedicated gatekeeper than Mrs. Dean Garrett," said Schultz.