LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Julie Pfeifer was nominated anonymously. 

Ms. Pfeifer is an exceptional educator who teaches Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Life Skills, and English, as well as writing IEPs and 504 Plans, at the Abraxas School of Ohio. During the years that Ms. Pfeifer has worked here, she has shown tremendous concern for the students. The school is in a facility for at-risk males aged 12-20 who have been involved in the legal system or are in the care of Child Services. Many students deal with addiction, but she is constantly trying new teaching methods to reach them, and more often than not, she succeeds. She has former students call her to tell her when they graduate; she has former students call her to say thank you when they find employment; she has former students call her to tell her when they become fathers; she has former students call her to tell her when they marry; she has former students call her to tell her thank you.

Ms. Pfeifer also assists the GED teacher, tutoring students in math or English when needed. She is so effective at this that there is a waiting list for students requesting her help. Her success rate is phenomenal, helping older students with no credits learn the skills to pass the exam with flying colors. She does all of this without additional compensation, often meeting with students before or after school.

When Ms. Pfeifer started at Abraxas, she showed that she holds herself to a high standard, professionally, ethically, and morally. She is required to be at the school by 8 AM, but she arrives early to prepare, getting there almost every day by 6:30. She is on a leadership committee, and for years, she was the only person at the school writing IEPs. Ms. Pfeifer has worked for four different principals, all of whom have depended on her to go the extra mile. Additionally, she questions her own actions and is constantly seeking self-improvement. If she feels there is a moral or ethical dilemma, she consults peers and the principal to ensure she is doing what is right. Ms. Pfeifer holds herself and her peers to high ethical standards.

As for how she reaches her students, Ms. Pfeifer has used various techniques. She has created exams that require creativity to find solutions using mathematics, such as designing an amusement park or planning a city with road systems and buildings, each with a limited radius of coverage to serve the entire city, both of which she has used in algebra and geometry with minor modifications. She also teaches a life skills class that requires students to become both CPR- and ServSafe-certified. Students in her life skills class also learn valuable skills such as financial literacy and basic cooking. Students thoroughly enjoy this class, and they have to be vetted to be considered for admission. All of this has helped her achieve high marks on her reviews.

She not only works well with her students but also with her peers. She has helped several with improvement plans, and she shows commitment by leading a group to improve morale and participation among students. Presently, the group is running a Word of the Month contest in which each teacher nominates a student who demonstrates the most significant commitment to the word, after which all teachers vote on all nominees to determine the month's winner. All nominated students receive a small prize, with the winner receiving a little more. Past words have included kindness, commitment, selflessness, and respect. This concept helps to foster a more positive environment for the entire school.

Ms. Pfeifer is also highly adept at motivating her students. Keeping in mind that the majority of her students have not attended school regularly for years, she has entered her classes in competitions such as Magma Math, competing nationally and taking the top prize two years in a row. She has also started a library, which was completely nonexistent at this facility before her arrival. Students who have never even attempted to read chapter books have found joy in reading, and they often boast to one another about how many pages the last book had.

Additionally, she has founded a book club where several students gather to discuss a book they have all read. She also started both an automotive repair club and a 3D printing club, despite having little knowledge of these subjects, and she learned alongside the students. She has also helped with the chess club. All of her clubs have been highly successful and are loved by students.

All told, Ms. Pfeifer has genuinely been a life changer for hundreds of students during her time at Abraxas. She continues to hold herself and her peers to the same high standards, and she expects her students to follow those standards as well. Ms. Pfeifer consistently works with students and peers to improve the school, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the atmosphere and developing herself in the process. She continues to work on self-improvement while both nurturing and motivating her students, yet still holding them to high educational standards. Ms. Pfeifer truly continues to change lives.