LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jacquelyn Gonzalez was nominated by a colleague, Robin Elder.

Teachers take on enormous responsibilities, and the reason they do so is because they want to change lives. Ms. Gonzalez does this on a daily basis. Ms. Elder teaches across the hall from Ms. Gonzalez and hears the daily interactions she has with students, parents, and staff members.

"She has 'it!' Mrs. Gonzalez has been teaching for eight years and is very good at what she does. Her firm, yet caring approach to classroom management is what initially caught my attention," Elder said. "She has a few students that are challenging, but you wouldn’t know it watching her class."

Ms. Gonzalez's commitment to her diverse population of first graders is amazing. From her creative classroom décor, to the excitement she expresses every time she lays eyes on one of them.

"Her commitment to changing their lives became clearest to me when I discovered that she had moved up with this group of students. She was also their kindergarten teacher," Elder said. "She was willing to loop with her students and I understand that she may do this until they are in fourth grade."

Ms. Gonzalez also leads initiatives on campus, but her leadership has been most prevalent with regard to discipline and interaction with students. She shares her management skills with her colleagues and has become a go-to for strategies that others can incorporate in their classrooms. 

"Teaching is a profession that requires that candidates have unique LifeChanger qualities. Many teachers do. However, because this quality is expected, teachers aren’t often placed in the category of a LifeChanger. I want this teacher to get the recognition she deserves," Elder said. "Her day to day commitment and love for students is a constant testament to her qualities of a LifeChanger, and she sets the bar high! Mrs. Jacquelyn Gonzalez is the LifeChanger on my campus!"