LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Andrew Gannon was nominated by his colleague, Nicole Cardente.

Mr. Gannon has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students. He began his career in an elementary school teaching mathematics. Then, he had the opportunity to loop with a group of his 5th graders to middle school, where he found his true home.

Mr. Gannon has been teaching mathematics for 7+ years. He has achieved some of the highest growth scores in the state of Tennessee. His ability to connect with his students and push his students for success is evident in and outside the classroom. 

Mr. Gannon not only teaches math, but he also coaches baseball. In both of his middle school positions, he has helped build a baseball program. He has spent countless hours of his extra time building fields, benches, roofing, laying seed, aerating, etc. He has driven hours around the state to secure donated equipment for his athletes to use so they can further their baseball skills. Mr. Gannon invests hours in growing athletes who will be true contributors in life. 

Mr. Gannon has served on leadership teams and has led the PLC team. He is a first responder in an emergency, teaches faculty through PDs on feedback, allows residency students time to grow as future teachers in his classroom, and is a mentor both for teachers and coaches.

"Mr. Gannon, although a very tall and strict man, provides a nurturing environment," said Cardente. "I know this because he still has previous students come every morning and afternoon to his classroom to get a challenge question, talk about the current math his old students are learning, and simply continue to show interest in his old student's lives. Another example is that he has kicked players off the baseball team for various reasons, but allows those young men to try again the following year, and they do. I don't know a harder-working or more deserving teacher than Mr. Gannon."