LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Devante Giles was nominated by his colleague, Debbie Fant. 

The late, great Rita Pierson often said, "Every child needs a champion!" Devante Giles, Sumter Central High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal, is a champion for every child and adult in his school and in his community. His actions, both big and small, consistently demonstrate what it means to be a servant leader and a true LifeChanger. Whether Giles is handing out bottled water in his small hometown of York, Alabama, distributing snack bags to the teachers and staff, or quietly buying a child a pair of shoes, Devante Giles leads with compassion and purpose. Giles doesn't seek recognition; he simply steps up to the plate. His servant leadership extends into the community with a ripple effect, reminding everyone that kindness and service are powerful tools for change.

His former high school coach, Jazmin Mitchell, described how Devante Giles would step up quickly to help another student even when Giles was a teenager. With tears in his eyes, Mitchell said, "Giles would see a need and find a way to help fill that need. He was a servant leader as a kid." For a little background on Coach Giles, he was the son of a single mother who did not own a car. Giles relied on the kindness of coaches and teachers to provide transportation to and from school events. Tragically, a terrible car accident left his brother disabled, and young Giles was hurt badly enough that he could no longer play sports. He still showed up to support the teams. Watching his brother struggle to earn his high school diploma lit a fire inside young Giles to pursue a degree in Special Education at the University of West Alabama. Students see in Giles a role model who believes in them (like his teachers and coaches believed in him), encourages them, and meets them where they are. Staff and faculty admire his tireless dedication and his ability to bring people together through shared acts of giving. He fosters an environment of hope, belonging, and love-exactly what Rita Pierson envisioned when she spoke of champions for children. Devante Giles embodies the very essence of a LifeChanger; a leader whose heart for service uplifts others and inspires lasting change. His unwavering commitment to his students and his community makes him not just a champion but a beacon of light for all who know him.