LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Deborah Villanueva was nominated anonymously. 

Ms. Villanueva believes that creating a positive classroom environment involves intentionally fostering a sense of belonging, respect, and safety among students. It's a space where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and learning from their mistakes. Ms. Villanueva accomplishes this through her own actions and by establishing clear expectations for student behavior.

There are a few key ways that Ms. Villanueva creates this positive space. One of them is building strong relationships with students, which she feels is the foundation of a positive classroom. A simple way she does this is to greet students at the door, use their names, and ask them how they're doing. This small gesture shows she sees them as individuals.

Ms. Villanueva also makes time for one-on-one conversations with her students to get to know their interests, hobbies, and challenges. Another method she uses is to show enthusiasm for her subject. According to Ms. Villanueva, when you're passionate, it's contagious. She also shares personal anecdotes or connects the lesson to real-world applications to make learning more engaging.

Last but not least, Ms. Villanueva actively listens to students' ideas and concerns, validates their feelings, and makes them feel heard.