LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Ryan Startz was nominated by her principal, Jennifer Elenes, as well as a family member, Elizabeth Startz.

Ms. Startz is a teacher who every child deserves to have at least once in their school career. When you walk into her third grade classroom at Empire Gardens, you are immediately struck by the creative setup. Her room is separated by book, with Dr. Seuss, Harry Potter, Shel Silverstein, and even a fairy tale castle area. She created a learning environment in her classroom that inspires students to push themselves further than ever before. Ms. Startz has bean bags and books sorted by reading level, and each child has their own hand-made blanket that she crafted during her summer. Her students are separated into houses like Harry Potter, and earn points for good behavior. Additionally, Ms. Startz makes a wand for each of her 28 students that dispense kind words and acts.

Ms. Startz has been in the classroom for years, teaching kindergarten, third, fourth and fifth grade. She was an assistant principal in Texas and enjoyed that job, but her heart was never far from the classroom. She is a natural leader who has led grade levels to greatness and is currently finishing up her Master’s in Educational Administration. Ms. Startz has many special certifications, from Gifted and Talented to Special Ed, ESL and specialty areas of all kinds. She will not stop until each and every child is where they need to be. Ms. Startz also enjoys visiting with the children's families to discuss their progress, and their parents love her. She loves her students and refuses to let them fail because she believes in their abilities.

In summer 2017, Ms. Startz was the ESY principal for her campus, and she did an outstanding job for the school.

"Ryan is one of those rare people who you meet and just want to spend more time with. She is positive, happy and loving,” Elizabeth said. "She has a supportive husband and two beautiful baby boys who are the apples of their mama's eyes."

Ms. Startz followed her family to Alaska five years ago and stopped teaching for a couple of years. She was hired to be a case worker for the state’s Office of Child Services. The job was grueling; she saw things that no parent should ever have to see. She vowed to make a difference in children's lives in the best way she knew how, so she moved back to Texas, then to California, to help take care of her husband's mom who was sick. In the process of moving, she went back to the classroom, which is what she knew best and where she belonged.

She began to interview with several schools at San Jose Unified. After interviewing with Empire Gardens Elementary, Ms. Startz knew she had found her home. She had one of the most challenging classes on campus; they were the lowest scoring group of incoming 3rd graders in the entire school district, and some of her students had severe behavioral and learning issues. That’s why Startz wanted the job, however. She wanted to make a difference. She welcomed these students into her family, and she created a classroom culture and community of kindness, respect, and love. Ms. Startz volunteered for every committee, and held many positions, including PBIS, Events committee, and webmaster for the school. She hit the ground running and hasn't stopped since. In her second year with Empire Gardens, she has demonstrated that she has the determination and compassion to help lead her school to greatness.

Last year, Ms. Startz sought out professional development opportunities that enabled her to interact more effectively with behaviorally challenged students. She also signed up for extra sessions offered by the school district to improve her teaching skills. Ms. Startz had nearly $800 funded through Donors Choose for brand new books and flexible seating options for her classroom so she could create the ideal classroom. She was trained in de-escalation techniques through Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI). Additionally, she has been scouted as one of the rising leaders in the San Jose Teachers Association, and was recently sent as part of a small delegation to the Region 1 Leadership Conference for the California Teachers Association. She offered before-school tutoring to students in need, but also offered her classroom as a safe place for reflection after school for students who needed extra time to process the day.

"She is one of a kind, and deserves any accolade you can bestow on her. I can't wait to see where her career leads her because honestly, she could run for President of the United States and probably WIN," Elizabeth said. "She's just that kind of woman...strong, loving and ready to face any challenge you could throw her way. She is a LifeChanger!"

"In the past year of working with Ryan Startz, I have seen our students grow emotionally and academically," Elenes said. "I have experienced her drive and determination firsthand, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as she fundamentally changes the lives around her for the better.”