LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Marika Briggs was nominated by her colleague, Cailin Aucoin.

"Mrs. Briggs is an absolute LifeChanger," said Aucoin. "We were entering the Georgia Tapp program together, but I knew she was a paraprofessional at our school the year before. I remember her being so bright and bubbly from when I first met her, and I got to see this personality carry over to her students. I see the way she interacts with them, and you can tell her students love her, even the ones who do not want to admit it! Students are happy to give her small gifts like drawings, and they think of her during the holidays, as well. Past students are excited to see her in the hallways, and there is always a positive interaction."

Mrs. Briggs shows leadership within her staff by serving as grade level and ELA chair. She also participates in district-wide activities, and she received a district honorable mention for her door decorating during Red Ribbon Week. Speaking of spirit, she always does an excellent job participating in spirit days and other school-wide activities. It's clear that Mrs. Briggs does not discriminate, and she treats all of her students with respect. She carries this attitude throughout the school by extending respect to fellow staff members, and she is courteous to folks outside of the building. 

This year, she has really shown persistence and flexibility. She started as an in-person teacher who quickly went to all-digital teaching. She handled this beautifully by scheduling regular Google Meets and contacting parents to ensure their children were receiving the same amount of care and instruction as if they were learning in person. After a few weeks, she had to return to in-person teaching. Even though it was tough for her to go back and forth, she did it with a smile and always executed instruction at a very high standard.

"She is wonderful to work with and an inspiration every day," said Aucoin.