LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jessica Cotto was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Cotto strives to create an environment where all students and staff feel safe, comfortable, and at peace. The school has donated lamps, a couch, and chairs so she can create a flexible and safe space in her classroom. The class has a snack bin, hygiene drawers, and extra clothes if a student is ever in need.

Since the school has so many low income families, a lot of the items are purchased by Ms. Cotto or donated by her coworkers. She is a school counselor at a Title 1 middle school that serves almost 700 students. Most of her students come from broken households and low income families that are always in need of basic necessities. Ms. Cotto  purchases food, clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and sanitary products all the time for the counseling center. Students know they can come to the staff and get what they need to be as successful as possible. They know that the staff is there to equip them with all the tools they need, and all they have to do is try.