LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dana Safarek was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Safarek creates a positive classroom environment by respecting diversity and being inclusive. Every student deserves to walk into a room where they feel seen, safe, and valued—not just for how they perform, but for who they are. She makes it a priority to learn about her students' backgrounds, interests, and cultures because those things matter. When kids see themselves reflected in the classroom, when their voices are heard and respected, they're more confident, more curious, and more willing to take risks.

Ms. Safarek would like to introduce new literature that represents different cultures because it helps students see both themselves and others in the stories they read. When students read books that reflect their own culture, it validates their experiences and shows them their voices matter. When they read about cultures different from their own, it builds empathy, curiosity, and understanding. She loves exposing students to lives that are different from their own. Some of her students have never been out of the city limits where they grew up.

In 2023, she attended a conference in Poland through Classrooms Without Borders. She learned about the Holocaust along with other teachers across the country. This trip profoundly impacted her and further inspired her to expose her students to different backgrounds.