LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Ericka Jones was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Jones creates a positive classroom environment by never forgetting what it felt like to be a student herself — to walk into a room hoping to be seen, safe, and cared for by the adults she trusted to guide her. Every day, she reminds herself that some students walk into school carrying things far heavier than a backpack. That thought stays with her. It drives her to lead with compassion, patience, and structure.

Even as an instructional coach, she works behind the scenes to help teachers build environments that feel safe, warm, and predictable — places where students know they matter. She supports teachers in building routines, restorative practices, and culturally responsive strategies that don't just manage behavior but nurture belonging. She pours her energy into this work because she knows what it's like to feel invisible in a classroom. She never wants any student in their building to feel that way. She creates the environment she once needed. That's why she does this.

At Killough Middle School, where the majority of students are economically disadvantaged and over 70% are English Language Learners, one of her most urgent needs is basic classroom supplies that support both daily instruction and hands-on learning. Her students thrive when they can connect abstract academic concepts to real-world, tactile experiences. For this reason, she's working to build a "tinkerer lab" — a space where students can explore science and math through inquiry, experimentation, and creative problem-solving.

Career Accomplishments:

• She presented at national conferences (NSTA, CAST) on closing academic gaps using AI, PBL, and strategic grouping.
• She is slated to present at NSTA and CAST in Minneapolis this fall to teachers from across the U.S. on learning models tailored to the juvenile mind, 3D learning, and integration of 3D headsets in science instruction.
• She has served as lead science coach for Aldine ISD, representing the district nationally.
• She has authored district science curriculum and collaborated with vendors like Summit K12 and McGraw-Hill to secure impactful resources.
• She has led science departments and supported the development of STEM and cross-disciplinary instructional initiatives.
• She has designed professional development sessions and created proprietary instructional content for Texas school districts.

Her most significant accomplishments have been unseen—the kind that live on in the minds and hearts of students and teachers long after she's gone. She plants seeds knowing she may not always see the fruit, but she trusts that her fervent efforts will lead to lasting growth. That's more than enough for her.