LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Frances Harding Herring was nominated anonymously.

At the end of the day, a positive classroom isn't about perfect decorations. It’s about how kids feel when they walk through the door. For a lot of Mrs. Herring's students, school is the most stable part of their day, so she focuses heavily on making her room a place where they feel safe, seen, and completely accepted. It starts with building real relationships, learning who students are outside of school, greeting them by name every morning, and letting them know she is genuinely happy they showed up. She makes sure mistakes are treated as a normal part of learning, not something to be ashamed of, and she handles behavior issues quietly and with respect rather than embarrassing a kid in front of their peers. When students know you actually care about them and have their backs, they feel safe enough to lower their guard, take risks, and really learn.