LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Grace Buchen was nominated anonymously. 

Ms. Buchen creates a positive classroom environment by individually connecting with each student and their families. She starts off the year by seeking to better understand the funds of knowledge in her classroom. In other words, she invites families to share about their cultural backgrounds, their student's personalities and strengths, and ways in which they would like to contribute to the classroom environment. Throughout the year, she highlights these strengths by inviting families to volunteer in the class and celebrate cultural traditions such as Día de los Muertos and Día de los Niños.