LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Teena Kasler was nominated by her principal, Angie Bricely. 

Mrs. Kasler is the kind of educator who consistently goes above and beyond because she knows every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. When she learned she would have a student on the autism spectrum entering her classroom, she proactively enrolled in additional professional development. She also spent time working with the student over the summer to build trust and ease the transition into school. Her commitment began long before the first day of class. Because of the relationship Mrs. Kasler built, that student showed significant academic growth and fewer challenging behaviors. By the end of the year, the student's parent not only became a valuable ally, but decided to pursue a degree in education, as well.

Mrs. Kasler knows that the lives she influences and the relationships she needs to build are not just the students'. The following year, her school had two kindergarten students with significant special needs. Mrs. Kasler, an experienced intervention specialist, proposed an innovative solution. She volunteered to move to kindergarten and then loop with her class into first grade, providing these students with the consistency, stability, and relationships they would need to thrive. This was not an assignment; it was a selfless decision made solely because she believed it was the best path for her students.

Mrs. Kasler continually seeks new ways to meet the needs of every learner. She taught herself strategies for communicating with nonverbal students, including learning sign language. She personally designed and funded a low-distraction hallway workstation where students could work with an adult in a calm, supportive environment. She also purchased classroom materials with her own money to transform her first-grade classroom into a welcoming kindergarten learning space. Her passion for improving instruction is evident every day. She regularly shares new ideas, research, instructional strategies, and resources, always asking how we can better support students. She is constantly looking for innovative ways to remove barriers and help children succeed.

Even during the summer, Mrs. Kasler's dedication never stops. She teaches in the summer kindergarten program to begin building relationships with incoming students, including those with special needs. She has also met individually with incoming students and their families to help reduce anxiety and create a positive transition into school.

Mrs. Kasler doesn't see obstacles; she sees opportunities. She approaches every challenge with creativity, compassion, and determination, always asking one question: "What is best for this child?" Her unwavering commitment to students, willingness to serve wherever she is needed, and extraordinary compassion make her a true LifeChanger and an educator who positively impacts the lives of students, families, and colleagues every single day.