LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jaz'Min Chaffino was nominated anonymously.

As a fifth-grade ELA teacher at a Title 1 school, Ms. Chaffino focuses on creating a classroom environment where every student feels seen, valued, and safe to take academic risks. She builds strong relationships from day one through morning meetings, consistent routines, and culturally responsive teaching. She uses affirmations, classroom jobs, and group celebrations to foster a sense of community and ownership.

Her classroom is structured around clear expectations, mutual respect, and student voice. She incorporates engaging, grade-level texts that reflect her students' backgrounds and experiences, making learning more relatable and empowering. She also utilizes flexible seating, visual cues, and small-group instruction to meet diverse learning needs and keep students supported and motivated. A positive environment starts with connection, and she works daily to ensure that every child knows they matter, both as learners and as individuals.

One of her most pressing classroom needs is access to high-interest, culturally relevant books and interactive literacy tools. Many of her students are reading below grade level, and several come from homes with limited access to books or a consistent internet connection. She strives to close the literacy gap by creating an engaging classroom library, utilizing differentiated materials, and incorporating hands-on tools such as whiteboards, anchor charts, and graphic organizers.

During her first year of teaching, she was honored to be nominated as a "Teacher to Watch" for her leadership, student engagement, and effective classroom management. That same year, and again in her second year, over half of her students passed the English Language Arts (ELA) portion of the Georgia Milestones Assessment, despite many having begun the year reading below grade level. She has worked hard to create engaging, differentiated lessons aligned to Georgia standards that support the diverse needs of her students, including those with individualized education plans (IEPs) and English Language Learners. She has also fostered a positive, culturally responsive classroom environment, built strong relationships with families, and focused on both academic growth and social-emotional development to help her students succeed.