LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Anne Wortman

Position: Title 1/Reading Recovery Teacher
School: Dedham School
School District: AOS 47
City, State: Dedham, ME

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Music that Describes Anne

Anne Wortman was nominated by her principal, Larry Clement.

"Describing Anne Wortman in three words is a great challenge to accept. She is certainly motivational! She inspires students to keep trying and believe in themselves when they are our most reluctant learners, to say the least. After working with her, our students become enthusiastic and excited to learn new things. Anne has that same effect on her peers. Staff in our school want to emulate the passion, energy, and drive to be the best version of ourselves that we can all be for our students and each other. Anne Wortman walks that walk every day," said Clement.

Ms. Wortman is empowering. She helps students gain confidence and independence in their learning while achieving what they alone could never have imagined. She takes the same nurturing and thoughtful approach as a teacher leader within her school. She is a literacy expert who coaches, partners, and ultimately empowers her school's reading teachers with a brand new toolbox full of recently acquired skills.

Ms. Wortman is dedicated. Her commitment to student growth and preparation is second to none. Not only does she work tirelessly to utilize all individual student data obtained, along with observation and interaction for planning purposes, but she does so without tiring. Ms. Wortman is one of the last teachers out the door each night. She's frequently seen in her office on the weekend and prepares while she is eating her lunch. She doesn't want to miss an opportunity to create the best possible learning environment to promote student success.

Ms. Wortman is dedicated to her school, as well. She volunteers to chair the MTSS/RTI team, the PreK-4 Literacy PLC, and the Sunshine committee, while being an active member of the Climate & Culture committee, the Recertification committee, and the School Donors committee. Her 35+ years of teaching at the Dedham School show longevity. Still, her heart and soul are dedicated to serving this community and ensuring that her impact uplifts others and fosters success for all students. Her consistent use of praise, interactive lessons, and home-school connections ensures that students make academic progress and feel celebrated and empowered every step of the way. Her determination to hold the bar high for all is set. She expects her students to not only meet goals but to exceed them with passion. Adults are also held to the same standard.

"Anne practices the highest moral and ethical standards of anyone I have met, in her professional, personal, and church life. She is a model for all," said Clement.

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Comments (5)

Agnes Robinson Posted 11 months ago

Mrs. Wortman is an amazing person to work with. She is a role model not just for children, but for all staff working with her. Her positivity and kindness rub off on all she comes in contact with, making struggling learners feel safe, and willing to step out of their comfort zone. As a colleague, I go to her for advice regarding intervention concepts for my students and she always has helpful guidance. She is thoughtful, hard working, and generous in all she does. I am lucky to work with her, and the smiles on her students' faces make it clear they feel very lucky as well.

Amy Allen Posted 11 months ago

Our family has the absolute gift of meeting Mrs. Wortman. She has worked with both my son and daughter and to say she is the best doesn’t seem to capture it. She is so kind, talented and patient. She not only taught my kids to read but to enjoy it! My daughter begged to work with her. She goes above and beyond, even offering tutoring sessions throughout the summers. She has given, and continues to give my children the skills and the confidence to grow and thrive. We all adore her and feel incredibly grateful to have her in our community. She has certainly changed my kids life and so many others! She redefined my idea of a perfect educator by exceeding all expectations and doing it all with a beautiful smile. Thank you Mrs. Wortman! You are so deserving of this award!

Annie Goodwin Posted 12 months ago

If there were ever a "poster person" for the LIFE CHANGER Award, it would be Anne Wortman. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Anne for 25 of her 36 remarkable years at Dedham School, and I can say with complete confidence—Anne is all in for the kids. Every decision she makes, every moment she gives, is rooted in one goal: helping students succeed. She’ll skip lunch without hesitation if it means meeting with a student who needs her. That’s just who she is. Anne serves as both our Reading Recovery teacher and our entire school’s Title I teacher. Imagine a railroad switch—a single mechanism with the power to change the direction of a train. That’s Anne. Time and time again, she steps in and reroutes a child’s path, equipping them with tools, support, and confidence to move forward in the right direction. She works with students from kindergarten through 8th grade, and she is a relentless champion for every one of them. I’ve seen it personally—my own daughter Ainsley worked with Anne before she was diagnosed with dyslexia. Ainsley struggled with reading and writing, but you’d never know it by the way she beamed after time with Anne. She felt like a rock star because Anne made her feel seen, valued, and capable. That’s what life changers do. This past year, I had a student struggling with both fine and gross motor skills. We couldn’t get services in place quickly enough. Anne—despite her already packed schedule—took it upon herself to consult with our occupational therapist, learn specific strategies, and work one-on-one with that student until services could begin. She filled the gap with grace, knowledge, and determination. Again: LIFE CHANGER. And these are just two stories among hundreds. Anne is also the chair of our Response to Intervention (RTI) Committee. She is the go-to person for every teacher at our school. When we have concerns about a student, we go to Anne. She not only listens—she guides. She sets up our meetings, creates and shares the agendas, and leads us with clarity and compassion. She is the heartbeat of our support system. Her dedication doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Anne tutors students all summer long and runs a summer reading program that provides students with books at their just-right reading level. Every two weeks, students exchange their books for new ones, keeping their love of reading alive and eliminating the frustration so many families face in finding appropriate materials. Our students love working with Anne. Our staff loves working with Anne. She brings light to even the darkest days. Her energy is infectious, her attitude is uplifting, and her presence is a gift. Anne Wortman is the person you want working with your child, standing beside you as a colleague, and shaping the future of education in our community. She is, without question, a LIFE CHANGER.

Tim J Pearson Posted 12 months ago

Anne is a gem! Having worked in education for 39 years I have not worked with another teacher as positive and humble as Anne. I have never heard her say a negative word about anyone or any situation in our school. Although a veteran teacher, Anne retains the enthusiasm and energy of a 20 something. She treats every student she works with as if they were her favorite and the most important person in the universe!

Beth Handley Posted 12 months ago

Anne Wortman….how to put into words how wonderful she is? Anne has been a passionate, dedicated, hardworking teacher at Dedham School for 35 years. Her work with Title 1 students is second to none. The children that she works with receive her entire attention each session and she works tirelessly to make goals for them to succeed. Anne is ready to lend a hand, offer advice, and listen to both students and staff alike. She is respected and definitely deserves this award.