LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Virginia "Ginny" Marbaugh was nominated by her colleague, Rhonda Cunningham.

Inspiring. Compassionate. Transformative. Ms. Marbaugh is much more than a middle school teacher—she is a LifeChanger for students who have often struggled to find success in a traditional classroom. She teaches a combined sixth-through eighth-grade alternative education classroom at The Goedde, where every lesson is intentionally designed to engage students who have experienced academic, behavioral, and personal challenges.

Ms. Marbaugh believes learning should be experienced, not simply taught. She transforms her classroom into immersive learning environments that bring literature and history to life. When teaching The Wizard of Oz, students didn't just read the story—they stepped into it. Her classroom featured scenes from the book, complete with life-sized mannequins dressed as the characters, a handcrafted hot air balloon large enough for students to stand inside, and detailed settings that transported them into Dorothy's journey.

During a Wild West unit, she recreated an entire frontier town in her classroom and hallway, complete with chuckwagons, horses, farmland, storefronts, and authentic décor. Every theme is built largely with her own time, creativity, and personal financial investment because she knows these experiences capture students' attention, who often struggle to connect with traditional instruction. Her classroom is a place where students feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. She meets every child where they are, adapts instruction to their individual needs, and creates opportunities for them to experience success.

Many of her students arrive believing they are "bad at school." Ms. Marbaugh helps them rediscover confidence by making learning meaningful, engaging, and memorable.

Beyond academics, Ms. Marbaugh is a leader throughout the school community. She plays an integral role in planning the annual Thanksgiving Dinner, helping students transform the gymnasium into a warm, welcoming space where families gather to celebrate. She teaches students not only academic skills but also service, teamwork, responsibility, and pride in their accomplishments.

Ms. Marbaugh consistently gives far beyond what is expected. She dedicates countless hours outside the school day and spends a significant amount of her own money to ensure every student has the resources and experiences they deserve. Her unwavering commitment, creativity, compassion, and integrity have made an immeasurable difference in the lives of countless students. She truly embodies what it means to change lives through education.

Each December, something remarkable happens at The Goedde. What was once an ordinary middle school hallway is transformed by Ginny Marbaugh into an enchanted Christmas wonderland. It isn't a few decorations hung on the walls—it is an immersive experience. Snow-covered trees, glowing lights, handcrafted displays, festive scenes, and whimsical details transport everyone who enters into a place where the magic of Christmas feels real.

The Goedde serves as the morning bus hub for Van Wert City Schools, so every day, hundreds of students from kindergarten through high school, as well as teachers, administrators, bus drivers, custodians, and staff members, pass through Ms. Marbaugh's enchanted hallway. What begins as a simple walk to class quickly becomes something much more. Young children stop in amazement, high school students who rarely let their guard down can't help but smile, and adults find themselves slowing their pace to take it all in. Over the years, the hallway has become a cherished school-wide tradition. Students look forward to it long before December arrives, and staff members bring visitors through to experience the joy it creates.

For many students, life outside of school can be difficult, uncertain, or overwhelming. Yet for those few minutes each morning, Ms. Marbaugh gives them something priceless—a chance to be children, to dream, to wonder, and to believe in something magical. That hallway is more than a beautiful Christmas display. It is a reminder that school can be a place of hope, comfort, imagination, and joy.

Ms. Marbaugh understands that before students are ready to learn, they need to feel connected, inspired, and cared for. Every light she hangs and every scene she creates sends the same message: You matter, you belong here, and you deserve moments of happiness. That is the kind of educator Ms. Marbaugh is. She doesn't just decorate a hallway—she creates memories that students and adults carry with them long after the Christmas season has ended.