LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Trace Fasani was nominated by Bailey McCoy, a student.

"Mrs. Fasani was always very supportive and protective of me as her student in my senior year. I had her for two separate class periods, including both English and Science. She was also my IEP (individualized education plan) case manager. My senior year was a challenging time for me. I was having a difficult time and lacking support at both home and school. Mrs. Fasani was a huge part of my safety net/support system during this part of my life! There were two separate incidents that involved conflict between my peers and me, and Mrs. Fasani protected me and prioritized my safety in those moments," said McCoy.

"The first incident involved both online and in-person conflict during class. Mrs. Fasani caught on and told the other students involved in the issue to do their work. When they refused to listen, she allowed me to go to the GRIT center (the school's place for students to take a quiet break or talk to someone for support if they're having a hard time), and I worked in there for the rest of the class period. The next day, I was nervous about going back to class after that incident. Therefore, I was sitting in the main office and wanted to work there for the day. Mrs. Fasani brought my work to the main office so I could work there for the day, and she assured me she would take care of the situation and make sure things were handled. The next day, I was back in class, and she offered to facilitate an apology to me outside, which I accepted. So she facilitated conflict resolution and made sure I received an apology, and after that, I wasn't bothered any further ever again," said McCoy.

"The second incident occurred during state testing time. The juniors of that class went to a different classroom for state testing, and the seniors of that class came to Mrs. Fasani's for the day. It was basically just a free day for us seniors, but one of the seniors who walked in happened to be someone I had previously had an issue with. My class schedule was modified due to this previous issue because I shared a class with that person beforehand and didn't feel safe around them. As soon as they entered Mrs. Fasani's class with other seniors, I immediately became visibly shaky with a racing heart due to a fear/trauma response. Mrs. Fasani was already aware of my previous conflict, and when I showed her my visible distress and explained why, she immediately wrote me a library pass and allowed me to sit in the library without hesitation or any further questions! As we can see, Mrs. Fasani didn't just tell me to ignore these classmates. She saw my fear and distress, validated what I felt, and made sure to take care of it and keep me safe," said McCoy.

"Additionally, due to everything I had on my mind because of everything going on at school and home, which frequently hindered my ability to focus on work, Mrs. Fasani always allowed me to speak with her. I told her what was on my mind before class started. If anything was on my mind during class while everyone was working on an assignment, I could go up to her desk and tell her what was on my mind and vent to her. She would actively listen, briefly acknowledge, and respond to what I said to make me feel heard and understood, and then I could focus again and get back to work. She saw me as a human with real needs and emotions, and she never let me feel unsafe or unsupported without helping me and guiding me through," said McCoy.

"Her constant support and protection were a huge factor in me pushing through every day, even when it felt impossible! And thanks to her support and others', I graduated in June 2025 and am now happy, successful, and working towards big goals and independence! Her support was vital to that happening, and she provided it endlessly! As a final touch, I want to mention what she wrote in my yearbook before I graduated! She wrote 'It has been a great pleasure getting to know you this year. I wish you much happiness in the future.' Mrs. Fasani saw me at my lowest and prioritized my safety and emotional well-being. A student can't do all the work and maintain good grades without support and a safety net during difficult, vulnerable times. Mrs. Fasani was a big part of that safety net for me! If I could say one thing directly to her, I'd say, 'In the middle of the war, you guard my soul. You give me strength when I am weak,'" said McCoy.