LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kern Kelley was nominated anonymously. 

Mr. Kelley believes creating a positive classroom environment begins with building relationships with each individual student. Building trust with the kids means that when academic subjects get difficult, they believe that it’s going to be worth it. This takes time and deliberate effort on Mr. Kelley's part to build a classroom culture that encourages an attitude that "we’re all in this together." He believes mistakes and errors are opportunities to highlight growth. He shares learning moments with the class, and his students are willing to take on difficult tasks. He believes that when the classroom is a safe space to take risks, students become more engaged in their learning.