LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Cheryl Gustafson was nominated anonymously. 

Ms. Gustafson begins creating a positive classroom environment by building trust and confidence, especially among her young learners, who often feel discouraged by math. She has spent 28 years teaching in Oklahoma and is now heading into her second year working with math remediation for 1st through 3rd graders. She's learned that students in this age group often come in believing that they're "bad at math" before they've even had a real chance to succeed. Her focus is on rebuilding self-esteem first by celebrating small wins, normalizing mistakes as part of learning, and making sure every student feels seen and capable. A big part of that is giving students activities that meet them exactly where they are. When the work is on their level, they can actually succeed at it! Once they feel capable, they begin to take more risks, ask more questions, and engage more without shutting down. In her experience, once a student believes in themselves, learning naturally follows. It’s the groundwork on which everything else is built.