LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Nancy Macri's nominator would like to remain anonymous.

Ms. Macri is a lover of everything; she loves nature, animals, children, and people!  She gives her all in everything she does and will always give you the shirt off her back.  She was a paraprofessional at R.B. Hunt Elementary School and was loved by teachers and students alike.  Her work has never been a "job" for her.  She is a person who goes in early, stays late and takes work home with her in the form of doing whatever it takes to help the children.  She was taking classes for ESE and getting certified to be an ESE paraprofessional, when unfortunately, she was laid off. Because of her winning attitude, Ms. Macri was able to secure a position at R.B. Hunt as an extended day team leader!

"The kids idolize Nancy," said her nominator. "It's wonderful to watch her in action playing with the kids, engaging them in all their activities, helping them with homework, and mentoring them with any problems they may be facing.  She even takes it upon herself to teach them how to surf on weekends. Nancy is a life long surfer and loves to share the love of surfing with the kids and their parents. If we have any children in our program that need anything, she is happy to help them in any way she can."

Ms. Macri has lived in the community for many years, so she knows many of the parents and is well-respected. She will gather children for movies, pizza, or a Saturday of some outdoor fun together. It brightens their spirits when they might be lacking a little something in their lives.  She is the "sunshine" to so many of her students, and they look forward to having Ms. Macri during the week and seeing her on the weekends. She uses her own money to do things for her students, such as purchasing extended day supplies or paying for students to go to the movies on a weekend.

"Nancy Macri is a very special person spreading her sunshine wherever she goes to both children and adults," said her nominator. "She makes our school and our world a better place just by being in it.  If she knows a student is celebrating a birthday, she will make sure that child has a little card and birthday surprise.  She put herself through college to get an Art degree, served in the Peace Corp, and even went back to school to better herself for a better position.  She is an inspiration to everyone who knows her...Nancy is one of a kind."