LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Judy Bremner was nominated anonymously. 

"It is with the utmost admiration and respect that I write this letter to nominate Judy Bremner for LifeChanger of the Year. In my years in education, I have rarely encountered an educator whose professional achievements and unwavering commitment to student well-being have left such a profound and lasting impact on not only her school but our entire district," said the nominator.

As a science teacher, Ms. Bremner uniquely bridges the gap between scientific understanding and the development of the whole child. She recognizes that teaching science is not just about cells, ecosystems, and biological processes. Teaching science is about helping students understand their place in the world. Through this lens, she seamlessly integrates mental health and emotional well-being into her science curriculum, empowering students with both knowledge and life skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Following an unimaginable tragedy that shook the community to its core, Ms. Bremner emerged, not only as a source of strength and solace, but as a catalyst for meaningful and systemic change. Amid grief and uncertainty, she authored and received a federal grant to implement programs that provided our students with life-saving tools for emotional wellness. Through her work, Ms. Bremner demonstrated how science and mental wellness are deeply interconnected. By engaging with living systems, she shows how the natural world supports emotional health.

Ms. Bremner is known for her "calming glitter jar" project, which teaches students how to cope with stress. She is also teaching her students grounding techniques (to cope with anxiety) and the importance of positive self-talk. She even put little notes on the faculty bathroom mirror that remind teachers and staff that they are beautiful and loved.

The impact of the projects Ms. Bremner has done has reached far beyond her school. She was invited to present her work to district leaders at the district's Innovative Teaching Expo. In addition to transforming her own school community, Ms. Bremner collaborated with middle and high schools across the district to establish SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Promise Clubs, which taught the "Start with Hello" and "Say Something" Programs district-wide.

"On a personal level, Judy has served as a mentor, generously sharing her expertise in science instruction and student support with colleagues across our science department and beyond. She is an ambassador for a lesson-sharing website (ShareMyLesson.com) where her lessons (under forandj) have been downloaded thousands of times. This past year, she served on our district's textbook selection committee, which chose the science materials we will use for the next six years. She has also served on the district's Mental Health Committee and Social-Emotional Learning Committee. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly recommend her for LifeChanger of the Year," said the nominator.