LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Kathryn Miranda

Position: Fourth Grade Teacher
School: St Edward's Catholic School
School District: Private
City, State: Newark, CA

Support Kathryn Leave a comment Get Updates

Music that Describes Kathryn

Kathryn Miranda received multiple nominations from students and parents. The following profile contains text from each nomination.

When people ask “What makes an amazing teacher?”, you can look to Mrs. Miranda to get your answer. She has a genuine inclination to help others. She observes, listens, and knows people, and because of that, she understands people. Mrs. Miranda is compassionate and can relate to people, children and adults. She allows her students opportunities to be understood and valued. She understands the power of creativity, wonder and laughter and makes learning fun.

Mrs. Miranda teaches far beyond what's in her lesson plan. She teaches kindness, love, patience, integrity, humility, compassion and provides a safe space for our children. Most importantly, she loves her students as if they were her own children.

"I was fortunate enough to have Mrs. Miranda teach my oldest and youngest child," said Jacqueline Simon. "Both of my girls have nothing but wonderful things to say, but to this day, my oldest refers to Mrs. Miranda as her secret angel sent from heaven...she can't go a Valentines Day or Christmas without buying or making her favorite teacher a card and reminding her how much she is loved. Mrs. Miranda has touched her life at a time where my daughter struggled the most. She took her own time to show her the magic of believing and the beauty of being uniquely different."

As students walk (or Zoom) into her class, she is always ready to say good morning and joke with them to brighten their day. She can tell when students are in a bad mood, and she'll always find a way to cheer them up. She really cares about her students and makes sure they understand what she's teaching them.

"In our class, Mrs. Miranda teaches us mind-blowing facts," said a student. "In math and grammar, she would give us some shortcuts, and in science, she would give us fun science projects. She knows so much about religion that she's the religion coordinator for Masses. and she gives us outstanding art projects. She's smart, hilarious, and one of my favorite teachers. I'm going to miss her when the school year ends!"

"Mrs. Miranda has been wonderful during shelter in place," said an anonymous parent. "She is extremely organized and made the transition to distance learning easy for the class and parents. She is on Zoom with her class for the full school day, makes work packets for the class, and even took the time to drop them off to each student. Mrs. Miranda truly cares for her students and loves what she does."

"Her dedication to her job and her students is amazing and I am so thankful both my children had the privilege to be her students, I know they are better people because of it," said Patricia Webber.

497 490 436 470 514

Comments (15)

Princes Walker Posted over a year ago

You truly deserved this nomination Mrs.Miranda. In our hearts and minds you are already the WINNER! We have been blessed to have our 2 daughters under your care and tutelage. You're not just a mentor, you're like a mother to them in ther second home. May others be inspired of your great work. We are proud of you ,Mrs. Miranda .

Katrina Maher Posted over a year ago

During our lifetime, we will meet incredible people along the way and I believe Mrs. Miranda is one of them. She has so many great qualities of a teacher. She’s growth-focus, resourceful, kind-hearted, well-organized, thoughtful and very efficient. We’ve witnessed our son adapt amazing developments by being more confident and mature which turned him to be more independent with his studies. Mrs. Miranda made the shelter in place experience stress-free for our family. She kept the students together as a class and she has gone above and beyond! We are forever grateful for Mrs. Miranda and she definitely deserves the Life Change Of the Year 2020.

Flores family Posted over a year ago

My then-fourth grader's class had faced some particular challenges with seemingly constant teacher changes and readjustments from a very early grade. When Mrs. Miranda came on as his fourth grade teacher, it was like she was sent as a true blessing to his class. We are very fortunate to have had her as their teacher. She not only provided the academic instruments for learning, but she did so with such a warm and sincerely caring personality, both with her class and with the parents. My son is now graduating 8th grade, and our family is truly grateful to Mrs. Miranda for all of her hard work, dedication, and caring. Thank you Mrs. Miranda!

johanne montpetit Posted over a year ago

Bravo, mi amiga!

Ibe family Posted over a year ago

Words could not express the amount of gratitude we have for Ms. Miranda. She is caring, compassionate and most importantly genuine in her desire to care for her students. Pedro Arrupe in 1873 spoke about the importance of a Catholic (Jesuit) education - “Today our prime educational objective must be to form men and woman for others....who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors.” We are truly convinced Ms. Miranda found her calling as a teacher for her students at St. Edward and loves each of them as if they were her own.

Lourdes Grace Esteves Posted over a year ago

Congratulations Kathy!!! As her co-teacher, I have witnessed her hardwork and dedication to our students. She inspires students to strive and achieve their best, and to come up with innovative ways in serving our school community. Mrs. Miranda is always willing to go beyond the call of duty for the sake of her students and colleagues. She is very caring and passionate in teaching children. I can truly say that Mrs. Kathy Miranda deserves to win this award.

Jenny Nardo Posted over a year ago

This nomination to Mrs Miranda is well deserved! You can tell how passionate and dedicated she is to her work by the way she treats her “children” (students). It could’ve been our worst nightmare (parents and students) during the pandemic where in students had to do distance learning but she really stepped up and made it easy for the students to adjust and cope up with their learning needs in 4th grade. And most of all, she truly believed the true potential in each and one of her students. You are truly a life changer Mrs Miranda! We really appreciate you !

Melissa Schneweis Posted over a year ago

Where do I start with this wonderful lady? I moved to CA from KS in the summer of 2015 and got a job at St. Edward’s in the fall. I was teaching 4th grade. I had the best class! By the end of Oct. I was going through a divorce and knew I needed to go back to my daughters in KS. It was so hard to leave my CA kiddos and the awesome St. Edward’s community that was my rock during the hardest time of my life. Kathy stepped in and took my place and I then knew my students were in great hands and I could go home where I needed to be. She was a saint then and still is!

Sandra Toulouse Posted over a year ago

Mrs Miranda truly loves her job as a teacher. Compassionate, kind and ready to listen are her top three attributes. With the Coronavirus upon is this year and school becoming online/virtual, I can only imagine the stress on the students and parents. Knowing Mrs Miranda so well, I am confident that she rose to the situation and provided all the support and guidance necessary for her students to succeed. She is very deserving of the life changer of the year 2020 award!

Renee Martin Posted over a year ago

It's been my pleasure to know Kathy as both her children's teacher and a colleague. Kathy is one of the best teachers I have had the pleasure to work with. Her dedication well exceeds what one would expect of a teacher. She has my wholehearted support!

Maureen Zane Posted over a year ago

Precious Kathy Miranda is a person who loves unconditionally and with unwavering loyalty. I met Kathy when her sweet son was my student. From the first day of knowing her until today, almost ten years, I have greatly admired her support and love for her children, her husband, and her family. She certainly deserves this recognition of being a life-changer; her students are blessed to have her as their dynamic teacher.

Avis Moniz Posted over a year ago

I met Mrs. Miranda not long before she became Mrs. Miranda. She is one of the nicest and kindest people I have ever met. She truly cares for everyone and will help anyone. I wish she had been my daughter's teacher because she truly cares for her (kids) students. I am honored to be her aunt and friend.

Jessica Posted over a year ago

I was not a student nor a parent of a student with Mrs. Miranda but I am blessed to have her in my life. She always has sincere heartfelt advice, truly moving stories to share and offers a listening ear. My favorite stories are the ones where she is moved to tears about how her students have impacted her life! The hours spent with Mrs. M are effortless and fun!

Allison Miranda Posted over a year ago

I am so proud to call "Mrs. Miranda" my mom! She treats her students as if they were her own children, and she always tells me how proud she is of each student as they grow in and outside of her classroom. I have never met someone more dedicated and passionate about their job. She works night and day, and even on weekends, to improve the experience of her students. She is constantly thinking of new projects and ways to engage the class. Every time we talk, my mom beams when she mentions her kids. I don't know anyone who is more deserving of being LifeChanger of the Year. Congratulations on the nomination Mom, you are phenomenal.

Rachel Cuanan Posted over a year ago

Mrs. Miranda is a very talented teacher. She has been a teacher for many, many years. With that knowledge, she is very educated herself!She’s like a second mother to us students.