LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dedra Patterson was featured on the Today Show:

Dedra Patterson was nominated by her superintendent Cindy Marten.
 

Ms. Patterson has been a phenomenal physical education teacher for 28 years. She has dedicated her life to making a difference in the lives of her students, and does so with a tremendous amount of love and pride that is a true example of what a teacher should be. 

Recently, one of her classroom lessons became a true testament of her life changing methods. During the 2016-17 school year, as a part of a new district wide initiative, CPR was to be taught to the fifth grade students during PE. However, thanks to her incredible instinctual abilities as a veteran teacher, Ms. Patterson decided to include her third grade students, as well. She prides herself on ensuring that all of her students leave her classroom prepared for whatever obstacles and challenges they may face. Little did she know that taking the initiative and making the decision to include her 3rd graders would have a life-changing effect on them.

Ms. Patterson not only wants her students to succeed in terms of their physical fitness, but she makes sure the lessons learned in class are translatable to their daily lives, now and in the future. She has properly equipped her students to be prepared for an emergency situation. Her efforts resulted in a life being saved over the summer.

One of her students took what he learned in her CPR class and sprung into action when his mother fell unconscious. Thanks to his CPR skills, he was able to sustain her until the paramedics arrived. Paramedics credited him with saving his mom's life. If he hadn't administered, CPR she may have lost her life.

Ms. Patterson encompasses what a teacher should be and is truly a LifeChanger in more ways than one!