LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Pam Hargrove was nominated by her colleague, Holly Schreiber.

"There comes a time in your teaching profession when you suddenly turn into the veteran teacher. You've taught in a few districts, moved grade levels a few times, and you've even had several principals," said Schreiber. "You've got a good frame of reference for the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's with that experience, that you know when you've hit the jackpot. I'm there. I've hit the jackpot. I love my students, families, building, and coworkers. This didn't happen by accident though. This happened because of one larger than life, powerful leader of our small school here in Shawnee.

"Pam Hargrove is that leader," said Schreiber. "She is definitely not the bad, the ugly, or even the good. She is the best! Pam has been my principal for 13 years. Under her leadership, I have learned, grown, and become comfortable as a veteran leader in our building. She encouraged that."

When Ms. Hargrove opened Belmont 10 years ago, she had a vision. She combined her nurturing personality with her insatiable passion to do what's best for education, and she created a building that is like no other.

Ms. Hargrove does the normal things that other principals do. She opens car doors for kids every morning, welcomes staff into her office at any time (even at the expense of her own work time), and she has lunch duty every day with the craziest grade level. These routine occurrences, however, pale in comparison to the other things she does.

Ms. Hargrove leads with her heart. Her whole heart. She leaves a trail of kindness behind her wherever she goes. She travels to a homebound student, who she gives instruction to so he doesn't fall behind. Ms. Hargrove attended the funeral of one of her student's parents, who lost his battle with cancer. She secretly helped pay for a student to enjoy a summer invention camp. She routinely ditches her own list of things to do in order to honor commitments made to one of her students, all because of her heart.

Ms. Hargrove leads with reflection. She is always challenging her staff to be the best they can be. Not the best someone else wants them to be, but the best they can be through their own reflections. What's unique in her leadership is she challenges her staff, while also supporting them. If a staff member has an idea, she helps them grow that idea and implement it. She encourages her team to do what's best for kids and what's best for themselves. She leads with reflection; including her own.

"Pam Hargrove started out in education a long time ago. I can't begin to tell you the accomplishments and accolades that she's achieved in her career," said Schreiber. "All I can tell you is how she has changed my career and my life. I teach a little better because of her. I help a little more because of her. I walk a little prouder because of her, just like the many other students, families, and teachers who have worked with her."