LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dianna Mann was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Ms. Mann has been the volunteer services coordinator for Yukon Public Schools for three years.  Before taking this position, she was a volunteer and mentor for YPS for five years. As the volunteer services coordinator, she oversees all aspects of the Helping Hands volunteer program, the Miller Mentor program, and the Santa’s Friends program.  She is an exceptional supervisor and leader who is always asking how she can help and looking for new ways to improve services.

In her three years with the district, she has elevated the mentor program, adding over 60 new mentors to meet with students on a weekly basis to be an encouraging and consistent figure in their lives.  She is very mindful of who she places with each child, making sure that the pairing is a good fit for both the mentee and the mentor.

Ms. Mann checks in with counselors frequently to see how these students are doing and if there are other ways that she can help them. She is passionate about the mentor program and helping to empower and motivate these students to succeed. The site counselors often talk about how a mentor has positively impacted a student’s life, noting changes in behavior or even improvements in academics. 

In regards to the Santa’s Friends program, Ms. Mann has been instrumental in finding new ways and new community resources to help students and families who are struggling.  She has made it a priority to make sure principals, counselors, and teachers know what services are available to students who may need assistance. Because of these efforts, students have been able to receive eye exams and/or glasses, as well as dental exams or much-needed dental work.

During the 2019-20 school year, Ms. Mann has helped over 25 families with getting warm coats for winter, new shoes, food, and other basic necessities. She is passionate about advocating for student needs and has made it her mission to make sure each student has what they need to succeed in the classroom and in life.   

Ms. Mann makes sure YPS and its community partners work together for the betterment of students.  As such, she has volunteered many hours outside of work on behalf of her department and district. She volunteers annually at the Canadian County Santa’s Toy Shoppe event, knowing that many of the district's families rely on this program to help them through the holiday season.  She also volunteers and assists with the Canadian Hills Nazarene Church’s Shoes for Kids program, making sure every student has a new pair of shoes for school. Ms. Mann works closely with local non-profits, such as Yukon Sharing and the Yukon Rotary Club, to support local initiatives which will help students.  She has also worked tirelessly to help pair outside church groups and anonymous donors with families in the district to provide them with Christmas needs and wants they otherwise wouldn't have.

"Dianna's leadership and professionalism, paired with her compassionate and empathetic heart for our students and their families, make her a LifeChanger," said the nominator. "She pours her heart into helping students and/or their families. She has shed tears over many situations she felt she wasn't able to do enough for, and we know of many instances where she was meeting and helping families outside of her work hours to ensure they had what they needed as quickly as possible.  Dianna is passionate about her work and goes the extra mile whenever necessary. She truly exemplifies the Yukon spirit of excellence in education, and we are proud to call her one of Yukon’s best!"