LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Chelsea Hall was nominated anonymously.

First and foremost, Mrs. Hall believes that building positive relationships with her students is most important. Additionally, connection and communication with their parents is integral to creating a productive environment for learning and students' personal growth. Regularly providing updates and information about what is expected of students and parents is key.

Mrs. Hall ensures that everyone is on the same page and sends timely information on changes to the relevant parties. She also makes essential information as accessible as possible by posting announcements in the classroom and using multiple formats to communicate with students and parents so that vital information isn't missed. Mrs. Hall uses Class Dojo, as applicable, and promotes her accessibility by providing her email and phone number with each communication.

Secondly, Mrs. Hall promotes a sense of community through positive class discussion and peer interaction. This happens by holding regular class meetings to check in with all of her students and encouraging them to express themselves constructively. She also promotes positive interaction among the students by allowing them to share their feelings and encouraging them to listen to each other, give compliments, express gratitude, and practice problem-solving together.

All students should feel comfortable both mentally and physically at school. A relaxed environment fosters a sense of safety and security, which is crucial for emotional well-being. This, in turn, allows students to feel more confident and engaged in the learning process.

As a teacher, Mrs. Hall can present topics and help initiate discussions, and she enjoys letting students guide the conversation. A great deal can be learned simply by listening! Group work is also an excellent way for students to learn how to collaborate. Some students thrive in this type of learning, and it also allows Mrs. Hall to provide extra help and attention for those who need it.

To maintain a positive learning environment, she strives to develop projects that students can get excited about. While incorporating the learning standards, Mrs. Hall seeks to find both fun and meaningful ways to teach her lessons. Some of the best projects include teamwork and encourage creativity.

Another way Mrs. Hall maintains a positive environment in her classroom for students is by establishing a sense of order and routine. Each morning, Mrs. Hall greets her students with enthusiasm and in a manner that demonstrates her genuine care for them as individuals. This further builds connection and shows each student that they matter.

She reminds students that no matter what happened yesterday, each day is a fresh start. Mrs. Hall also encourages them to greet her and their peers back with the same positivity. She establishes clear routines by using predictable schedules and procedures to help students feel secure and know what's expected, including during lessons and transitions. Mrs. Hall demonstrates how to be clear in her expectations, and then, students practice and reinforce those routines. She also explains why these expectations matter. Most importantly, she remains flexible and adjusts when necessary, which helps set her students up for success. 

To ensure a positive learning environment in her classroom, Mrs. Hall also emphasizes the importance of reinforcing good behavior. She praises her students for what they are doing right, both as a class and individually. This year, they will try filling a class reward jar for a desirable activity or prize. Mrs. Hall is also implementing a system that allows students to nominate one another for a reward to promote leadership qualities and good behavior. This will encourage positive qualities in all students and enable them to recognize when their peers exhibit those same characteristics or actions.

Finally, Mrs. Hall fosters a positive learning environment in her classroom by taking care of herself mentally and physically and maintaining a positive mindset. Mrs. Hall has firsthand learned that if she doesn't properly take care of herself, she won't be able to help her students as effectively either. She tries to destress and unwind as much as possible in her off time. She asks for help when needed and leans on her teammates when appropriate. Mrs. Hall takes one day at a time and gives her best each day.

Mrs. Hall is a proud alumna of Forest Hills and takes great pride in serving her hometown community. She began working in the principal's office in 2014 and subsequently completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in school counseling. She became the school counselor at Forest Hills in 2020 and loved working with students and various stakeholders.

This year, she is trying something new as an elementary teacher. Mrs. Hall has been hired for the combined 4th- and 5th-grade class. Mrs. Hall will have 15 students in her 4th and 5th-grade classroom this year, teaching English, math, social studies, and science. This is something new, as her school is facing declining enrollment. She is excited to take on this challenge and looks forward to supporting her students in the best way possible.