LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Brenda Ader was nominated by her colleague, Megan Barnett.

"The teacher I have nominated has influenced the lives of many, many students," explains Barnett. "Brenda Ader has a knack for building authentic relationships with students, whether they're high-achieving and at-risk.  For those who need to excel, she has single-handedly devised an Honors curriculum for her English 2 course, teaching higher-cognitive concepts within the same general education classroom.  This not only allows gifted students to excel, but provides them with an opportunity to earn a weighted score for their sophomore year."

Ms. Ader is also able to effectively build meaningful relationships with her struggling students, meeting both their emotional and academic needs.  In addition to adjusting the material, she purposefully gets to know the students on a personal level in order to better get them through high school. Teaching in a low-income area, she has several students who struggle with poverty, drugs, and abuse beyond her classroom. It's why she is so adamant about ensuring she gets to know her students well enough to help them be successful after high school, whether their goal is attending college, going into the workforce, or just graduating on-time.

While some of the students joke by nick-naming her "Mama Ader," the meaning behind the nickname is clear: she is someone who truly cares for the students. This is apparent by her record of earning the most paper apples during Teacher Appreciation Week from students! It's also not uncommon to see past graduates entering her classroom with stories of their post-high school lives, thanking her for her dedication to them, and for not giving up.

"In addition to the students, Brenda has had a profound impact on my own teaching," said Barnett. "She has served as a mentor and friend through tribulations and triumphs throughout my years in this district.  First, she is always willing to serve as a soundboard for lessons, concerns with students, and ideas for teaching strategies.  I have always found her words to be honest, which I admire and appreciate.  Her work ethic has also served as a model for myself."

Ms. Ader is usually the first to arrive and the last to leave.  She is always making sure to provide meaningful feedback to each student on assignments. She is also a sponsor for several clubs, as she believes that students need to have the opportunity to explore areas of interest outside of the classroom.  One such club is her mythology club, which she started after the mythology class was cut due to scheduling conflicts and budgeting concerns.  

"I honestly cannot think of a better person for this award.  She is truthful, encouraging, efficient, and skilled in her craft.  She is a person who can bring lessons to life while helping others see the best in themselves.  It is my hope that she is deeply considered for this honor," said Barnett.