LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Lisa Martin was nominated by Michelle Gilbert, the parent of a student.

"Lisa is an educator who cares deeply for children as students and as people. She was my daughter's ELA and choir teacher," said Gilbert. "While she was a wonderful English teacher, her work for the arts program in our small school district is what makes her a LifeChanger."

Lone Oak ISD is located in rural East Texas and exists in a town of only 500 people. The arts have never been a priority, and the district faces staffing challenges. Ms. Martin came to the district and saw the lack of arts in the classroom. She immediately went to work becoming certified to teach Theater Arts. For the first few years, Ms. Martin struggled with inadequate sound and stage equipment, and she asked her community for props and costumes. She was awarded two different grants to improve the middle school's stage and sound system for theater arts, mainly due to her enthusiasm for bringing arts to LOISD.

A couple of years later, she decided to bring the gift of vocal music to the middle school by establishing its first choir: The Lone Notes. This is where Ms. Martin really showed her love for the students. With only a handful of reluctant middle school girls, she began holding practices during the kids' tutorial period and occasionally after school. No matter what challenges they faced, Ms. Martin's spirit never waned. She advocated for her Lone Notes to perform at school assemblies and other functions.

"My daughter, Glo, suffers from severe medical issues and significant learning disabilities. Lisa never saw this as a deterrent and spent lots of time helping Glo learn lyrics and encouraging her to use her talent," said Gilbert. "I'm in tears as I write this because even now, I'm just realizing how much Lisa's encouragement meant to Glo and the courage and confidence that grew from that encouragement."

If her undying love, encouragement, and steadfastness aren't enough, Ms. Martin is also full of school spirit. She often dresses up for special days at school and enthusiastically cheers on students in whatever activity they are participating in. 

"Lisa has changed mine and Glo's lives for the better," said Gilbert. "Thank you, Lisa, from the bottom of my heart, for loving my girl so well."