LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Amanda Cobb was nominated anonymously.

Every year, Ms. Cobb makes sure to build a classroom full of trust. Her goal is to make sure that all students who enter her classroom feel confident in making mistakes. Making mistakes is how they learn best. If students are afraid to make mistakes, then they run the risk of ending the school year with the same knowledge they had when they entered. Since she teaches only gifted students, they must be willing to try things. By giving them tasks that they may not be successful with, she can help them grow in ways they did not even know they needed.

When she took over the gifted program eight years ago, the only classroom supplies she inherited were three resource books. Since then, she has written grants and paid for many things out of her pocket to grow the gifted program in her building. Each year, they have increased the number of gifted eligible students and are currently above 50. She also teaches potential gifted students in talent development for each grade level in kindergarten. With all of the gifted and potentially gifted students, she teaches over 100 students in her building during a school year. 

Ms. Cobb was a Certified employee of the year, a four-time Teacher of the Year finalist, has a Master's in reading and literacy, is a Specialist in curriculum and instruction, and has a Tier 1 leadership certificate.