LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Tiffani Pollard received multiple nominations from her current and former students. The following profile is a summary of these nominations.

Ask anyone at West Harrison High School, and they’ll tell you that Mrs. Pollard is a LifeChanger. She’s a maternal figure for students, and the glue that keeps her school together. Every student at West Harrison High becomes connected to Mrs. Pollard at some point, whether they have her as a teacher or not. She knows every student by name, and she’s there for students whenever they have a problem.

“I met Mrs. Pollard during my senior year of high school,” said Madison Towles, a former student. “I had just moved to West Harrison and knew absolutely no one. I was overwhelmed and very nervous, but the moment I stepped foot into Mrs. Pollard's classroom, she made me feel right at home. She made me feel as if she knew me throughout my whole four years of high school and went above and beyond to make sure I felt welcomed.

“I was going through a rough time and struggling with depression and anxiety,” said Allie Schultz, a former student. “Mrs. Pollard helped me. She made me feel like my life was worth it. At the time, I was being adopted. The day after my adoption, I walked into school, and Mrs. Pollard hugged me and told me she was proud of me...She was amazing, and the best role model that I had in my life at the time! 

As an English teacher, Mrs. Pollard helps her students become better, more efficient writers. She also helps students understand how to communicate in a professional manner. She can work with many different types of students without getting frustrated, losing her patience, or making anyone feel less important than another person.

In every community she’s a part of, from her church to the student council, she becomes completely involved and influences everyone around her. She’s always at the forefront of planning activities that will benefit her students and community. When a neighboring city was hit by a tornado, Mrs. Pollard led an extremely successful, school-wide food drive that filled an entire school bus. Her leadership brought the fledgling journalism class at West Harrison a two thousand dollar grant from Powerade. Her charisma and outspokenness often led local businesses to working with and supporting the school. Finally, for the class of 2020, Mrs. Pollard spent weeks putting together a slideshow containing their senior portraits, class song, class motto, class flower, and their class colors for them to watch and have at home during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Mrs. Pollard is a very straightforward person, not fearing to call something what it is. At the same time, she’s willing to help anyone with anything and has one of the biggest hearts. She gives without expecting anything back. She's kind and forgiving, always looking for ways to fix bad situations without too much scolding.

“I was her student in 2016, but I still remember where her classroom is. I was always eager to get to her classroom in the morning,” said Emily Hooper, a former student. “She would cheer me up when I was having bad days and add on to my good days. The year that I had her, I was so down in the dumps, and her presence...helped me want to do my work. I didn't even want to go to my graduation ceremony, and Mrs. Pollard literally got me the cap and gown for me to be able to go to my graduation. I hated when I did graduate, though, because I knew I wasn't going to be in her class anymore, and I had to learn to inspire myself. It wasn’t too hard because I had such a great example.”

“I graduated in 2014 from West Harrison High School, and Mrs. Pollard was my English 4 teacher,” said Amber Dye, a former student. “She had also been the student council sponsor since I was a freshman, and I was the executive student council president there...I don't think my four years of high school would have been as amazing as they were without her there. She is the true embodiment of a genuine educator, friend, and person. Six years later, she still stays in touch with me. 

Mrs. Pollard pushes students to reach their full potential. She helps them in choosing colleges, and she even stays in touch after they graduate.

“I had Mrs. Pollard for Broadcast Journalism for my senior year of high school,” said David Eisman, a former student. “At the time, I had doubts about going to college and getting a degree for myself. I thought the only way I was going to make a life for myself was to join the military out of high school. Mrs. Pollard encouraged me to do my best and told me I had the capability to complete anything I set my mind for. She is the reason I enrolled in college, and without her help, I would not have realized my potential. I excelled in college, joined Phi Theta Kappa in just one semester, and became an officer in the honor society organization for two year colleges. Without Mrs. Pollard motivating me to do my best. I would not have recognized my potential in academics.”

In short, Mrs. Pollard is the definition of “Hurricane Spirit,” and she exemplifies what it means to be a LifeChanger!