LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile
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Bryana White
Position: Preschool Teacher
School: Clark Early Learning Center
School District: Springfield City School District
City, State: Springfield, OH
Bryana White was nominated anonymously.
Ms. White creates a classroom environment that is a vibrant, inclusive blend of cultures, languages, learning styles, and developmental needs. She serves a richly diverse group of students, including English language learners, children with IEPs, and typically developing students, and sees that diversity as a strength to be celebrated. Her approach is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and successful. She works intentionally to create a space that reflects this vision.
Her top priority is making the classroom feel like home, a comforting, welcoming space that meets students where they are. She incorporates sensory-friendly furniture, such as bean bags and soft rugs for calming corners, as well as diverse books that represent a wide range of cultures and abilities. Ms. White ensures that her classroom is rich in bilingual materials and hands-on manipulatives, supporting a variety of learning styles and needs, particularly for students with special needs.
To support regulation and engagement, she uses visual aids, picture schedules, adaptive tools, fidgets, and noise-reducing headphones, not just for students with IEPs, but for the benefit of all learners. These tools embody principles of universal design, helping reduce behavioral challenges and giving students more independence and control over their learning experience.
Understanding the emotional needs of her students, many of whom face instability outside of school, Ms. White also values continued growth in culturally responsive teaching and trauma-informed practices. Through professional development, she deepens her ability to create a space where every child is emotionally supported and academically challenged. At the core of her work is a deep commitment to equity, joy, and belonging. With the right tools and resources, she continues to build a classroom where all voices are honored, all learners are empowered, and every child feels that the space was made just for them.