LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Meagan McCormick was nominated anonymously.

Ms. McCormick believes that creating a positive classroom environment starts with making sure every child feels safe, seen, and loved. As a kindergarten teacher, she knows that for many of her students, this is their very first experience in a school setting. That’s why she greets each child by name every morning, gets down on their level, and makes sure they know they matter from the moment they walk through the door.

Working collaboratively with a paraprofessional, she builds a classroom community where kindness, curiosity, and respect are part of the daily routine. They use positive reinforcement, plenty of encouragement, and make time to connect individually with each child, so every student feels valued just as they are. Ms. McCormick also prioritizes strong communication with families, knowing that when they work together, students feel even more supported. Her goal is to make every child’s first school experience joyful, safe, and full of meaningful learning.

One of her priorities is ensuring her students have access to hands-on, play-based learning materials, such as educational puzzles and games. At this age, children learn best through play, and these tools are essential for building foundational skills like problem-solving, fine motor development, collaboration, and early literacy and math concepts. She also emphasizes the importance of having basic classroom supplies like glue sticks, crayons, markers, and dry-erase markers, since young learners use them daily as they explore and grow. When students have the materials they need, they’re more engaged, confident, and excited to learn. Simple things like a new puzzle or a fresh set of crayons can make a big difference in their day.

As a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor, Ms. McCormick knows firsthand about following your dreams and never giving up. During her treatment, one of the hardest times of her life, she never let go of her dream of becoming a teacher. This year marks six years in remission for Ms. McCormick, and she now lives that dream every day in her kindergarten classroom. She sees teaching not just as a job, but as something she fought for, and that makes it all the more meaningful. Ms. McCormick strives to show her students the importance of hope, resilience, and perseverance.