LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kimberly Woody-Smith was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Woody-Smith believes creating a positive classroom environment involves intentionally fostering a space where students feel safe, respected, motivated, and valued. These are the key strategies she uses to help achieve that:

1. Build Strong Relationships - She learns student names quickly and uses them often. She shows a genuine interest in students' lives, cultures, and interests. She holds regular check-ins (e.g., "How are you feeling today?") to show that she cares.
2. Establish Clear Expectations and Routines - She creates class norms together with students when possible. She's consistent with rules and consequences. She uses predictable routines to reduce anxiety and increase trust
3. Encourage Positive Communication - She models respectful and kind language, and practices active listening. She teaches conflict resolution and social-emotional skills. She praises effort, improvement, and kindness publicly and often.
4. Celebrate Success and Effort - She uses student shout-outs, sticker charts, or class-wide goals. She celebrates small wins, birthdays, and positive behaviors. She incorporates Spirit Days, class rewards, or student-of-the-week programs.
5. Create an Inclusive, Safe Space - She uses diverse materials that reflect all students. She encourages collaboration and teamwork. She addresses bullying, bias, and exclusion in a quick and fair manner.
6. Make Learning Engaging and Student-Centered - She uses hands-on activities, games, and student choice. She adapts her instructional strategies to accommodate different learning styles. She encourages questions, curiosity, and creativity.
7. Be Present and Reflective - She stays calm and patient because her tone sets the mood. She reflects on what's working and what's not, and adjusts accordingly. She shows enthusiasm for teaching and learning—it's contagious!

As a teacher in a low-income, high-needs community, one of her most pressing classroom needs is essential school supplies and daily-use materials to support a productive, respectful, and equitable learning environment. Many of her students arrive each day without the basic tools they need, such as pencils, notebooks, folders, and headphones. While she does her best to provide for them out of pocket, the need is often greater than what she can manage alone.

As an educator, Ms. Woody-Smith has consistently improved student performance on standardized assessments by incorporating data-driven instruction and targeted interventions. She developed engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards, leading to significant academic growth in reading and math.

Ms. Woody-Smith also served as grade-level chair/team lead, facilitating curriculum planning, mentoring new teachers, and fostering a collaborative team culture. She led school-wide initiatives, including a Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, which resulted in improved student behavior and school climate.

Finally, Ms. Woody-Smith designed and implemented a literacy enrichment program that increased reading fluency and comprehension across multiple grade levels. She integrated social-emotional learning strategies into daily instruction to support whole-child development.