LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Karen Slough was nominated by her friend, Gordon Van Remmen.

Teaching eighth graders can be challenging, but that has never stopped Ms. Slough from showing up every day to teach with a smile and a hug. She teaches at a charter school where most of the students live in poverty and have difficult home lives. For many of Ms. Slough’s students, homework is not the most pressing issue in their daily lives, and simply attending class can be a challenge. Needless to say, the students at Kindezi do not always have a lot to celebrate. However, that is exactly what Ms. Slough does every day. She always finds the positive in a situation and empowers her students with the confidence to take on challenges. She celebrates the small victories.

A prime example of Ms. Slough’s attitude is her response to a failing student. This student was upset with their grade on a recent test, a 65 out of 100. Ms. Slough reminded the student they had received a grade in the 30s only a few weeks prior. The student had more than doubled their test score! Ms. Slough explained even though the student had failed the test, they should appreciate all the progress they had made. With the confidence and realization they could improve, the student raised their grade to a passing score. Celebrate the small victories.

Another illustration of her approach is a field trip she plans every year. Most of the students at Kindezi do not get the opportunity to travel, and some have never even been out of the metro-Atlanta area. In order to give her students some perspective and show them how vast our universe can be, Ms. Slough organizes an annual field trip to Space Camp for her eighth-grade class. Due to the demand from other classes this year, the trip was expanded to all middle school students who qualified.  Ms. Slough happily obliged. She recruited more chaperones and coordinated an extra bus and guides to accommodate the larger group.

Space Camp is in Huntsville, Alabama, which is almost four hours from Atlanta. Some students wanted to attend but had trouble affording such a big trip. Ms. Slough was determined to make sure every student who qualified for the trip had the opportunity to attend. She set up fundraisers, payment plans, and whatever else she could to make sure each student who qualified for the trip was able to attend. In order to qualify, students must have good attendance at school and no behavioral issues. Qualifying for the trip became a useful classroom tool for Ms. Slough to keep her eighth graders focused and attentive. Whenever students started acting out in the months leading up to the trip, Ms. Slough would remind them if they didn't behave, they wouldn't be allowed to attend the trip. Ultimately, the students who got to experience Space Camp had earned that privilege through their behavior. These students were beginning to understand that good behavior has real benefits and that long-term goals require discipline. Celebrate the small victories.

Ms. Slough may not be a thirty-year teaching veteran, but she has always had a mindset of empowering her students by reinforcing their personal growth, no matter how minor the growth may seem. She started her teaching career with Teach of America at a failing school in Memphis, Tennessee.  The classroom environment was less than ideal. As a first-year teacher, Ms. Slough dealt with gang violence, school lock downs, and other serious behavioral issues. This is a lot for a twenty-something young woman to handle while still trying to teach a classroom of students without breaking down and crying.

One student in particular had issues with acting out and being disrespectful in the classroom. Despite his outbursts, Ms. Slough formed a bond with the student. Rather than simply sending this student to the front office, she was determined to find out why he was behaving this way and what could be done to change it. Ms. Slough would often drive the student home after school so he would not have to walk through a bad neighborhood. They would talk about his home life and school, and sometimes even stop for slushies or fries. She soon found out that the student had a lot of siblings, and his parents worked long hours to make ends meet. His parents could not always be there to help with the homework and give him the support he needed. Ms. Slough was there to celebrate with him. She would attend his sporting events, chorus concerts, or whatever other happenings the student had in his life. With someone there to support him and celebrate his growth as a person, the student’s behavior and grades began to improve. He went on to graduate from high school and is currently enrolled in college pursuing a nursing degree. Celebrate the small victories.

While it is valuable to support students in every accomplishment, Ms. Slough also recognizes the importance of celebrating the big victories as well. Most people do not remember their last week of eighth grade. They cannot recall if there was a ceremony or if they got a diploma. Every one of Ms. Slough’s students will remember their last week of eighth grade at Kindezi. That's because she organizes an entire week of events to celebrate her students' graduation from middle school, from a day at Six Flags, to roller skating, to a field day at the park. Every student is able to have fun and commemorate their accomplishment in making it to high school. Her students not only have a great time, but they can reflect back on how much they have learned and grown in middle school. It is empowering for these students to recognize how far they have come and realize just how far they can go. Celebrate the small victories. 

While a trip to Space Camp or a week of field trips can be a once in a lifetime opportunity, Ms. Slough also marks the start of each month with fresh baked goodies (usually cookies) for all of her students. In school, months can often fly by and blend together. A simple reminder of a cookie on the first of the month is a good reminder to focus on short term goals and appreciate how much a student has learned and grown, even if it's only in a single month. Also, the students love the treat on the first of each month. Celebrate the small victories.

Ms. Slough works tirelessly to make sure her students are supported and empowered to become confident young adults. No matter what challenges she faces, she is always calm and often responds to personal insults by telling the student that she still loves them. In her first year as a teacher at Kindezi, the administration recognized her sacrifice and positive attitude by awarding her Eighth Grade Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Slough realizes that by celebrating the small victories in life, she can inspire her students to accomplish their goals. Often times, a student’s dreams can seem impossible and unattainable. Ms. Slough shows her students that all of their ambitions can be reached once they are broken down into smaller steps and taken one at a time. It is important to recognize students' progress and how far they have come. By looking back and celebrating the small victories along the way, Ms. Slough’s students realize their goals are not impossible and they have the power to achieve anything. 

"Every day, Ms. Slough inspires her students and celebrates even the smallest of victories," said Van Rammen. "Ms. Slough is a true LifeChanger."