LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Lacey J. Davis was nominated by her mother, Susan Paslay. 

"As Lacey's mom, I've had the privilege of watching her heart for others grow her entire life. While most people know her as a teacher, I've always known that teaching is simply the way she lives out her calling. She doesn't just educate children...she changes lives. This year marks her 21st year in education and her second year teaching Kindergarten, and I truly believe she has found exactly where she was always meant to be," said Paslay.

Ms. Davis creates a classroom where every child feels loved, valued, safe, and capable of succeeding. Her students don't just learn their letters and numbers. They learn confidence, kindness, responsibility, and that they matter. She pours countless hours into making learning exciting and meaningful. She continually seeks additional training, earns certifications, applies for grants, and finds creative ways to provide experiences her students might not otherwise have. She never settles for "good enough" because she believes every child deserves the very best.

What makes Ms. Davis even more special is that her servant's heart doesn't stop when the school day ends. She volunteers with The Fletcher Foundation, Impact Seminole, and Seminole Rotary Club, always looking for another opportunity to make someone else's life a little brighter. Helping others isn't something she does for recognition; it's simply who she is. She often says serving others is one of the ways she honors and remembers her beloved Nannie, whose example of kindness and generosity continues to inspire her every day.

She has also dedicated herself to mentoring fellow educators, sharing resources, encouraging new teachers, and supporting families. She understands that changing the life of one child often begins by supporting the people surrounding that child.

"What has always made me the proudest isn't her degrees, certifications, awards, or accomplishments, although she has many. It's that no matter where she goes or what she's doing, people leave feeling seen, encouraged, and loved. She has an incredible gift for making others believe in themselves," Paslay added.

"A LifeChanger is someone who leaves every place and every person better than they found them. That is exactly who she is. She leads with compassion, serves with humility, loves without limits, and gives her whole heart to her students, their families, her colleagues, and her community. As her mom, I couldn't be prouder of the woman, teacher, and servant leader she has become. She truly isn't just changing classrooms. She's changing lives, one child, one family, and one act of kindness at a time," said Paslay.