LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Lisa Schultz was nominated by her principal, Clark Olstad.

Mrs. Schultz is an amazing educator who believes in “Tough Love." She's the perfect fit to teach the challenging age level of a sixth grade student. She educates each child as if they were her own child.  Mrs. Schultz is very firm and consistent, and she demands students to act like young adults at all times.  Mrs. Schultz does not believe that babying a young adult or allowing them to make excuses will help them later on in life. Instead, she truly believes that setting high expectations and always demanding accountability is the key to helping students reach their full potential.

Mrs. Schultz has many strengths as an educator, but one of her best strengths is her ability to create a consistent classroom environment in which her students clearly understand the rules and procedures that help establish an outstanding learning atmosphere.  At the same time, students trust Mrs. Schultz and truly believe she cares about them. Students will not learn academics until they first believe their teacher cares about them.  Some of the most challenging students in her school do extremely well in her classroom environment.

"I can remember countless sixth grade students who have commented to me over the years that Mrs. Schultz is their favorite teacher they have ever had at school," said Olstad. "I ask them why she's their favorite teacher. Students will always respond with a similar comment that Mrs. Schultz is tough and strict, but they know she really likes them. They want to do their best in class so that they do not disappoint her."

Olstad recalled a quote from Dan Rather that reminded him of Mrs. Schultz.  "The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.”  This quote is exactly what Mrs. Schultz represents. She believes in her students, but at the same time, she's never afraid to poke them with a sharp stick of the blunt truth.

"I have never received negative parent concerns or phone calls about Mrs. Schultz," said Olstad. "Instead, parents call and thank me because Mrs. Schultz is honest with their child.  Students and parents both have commented many times to me that Mrs. Schultz is a great teacher, and that they will remember her forever as having a positive influence on their life. She is, and will continue to be, a LifeChanger to many students and families at Plainview-Elgin-Millville Community Schools!"