LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jacquie Naughton was nominated by her colleague, Debra Brown.

In a school that has over 4,000 students, there is one person who finds the kids who are lost. There is one person who lets kids know there is someone who is always on their side. There is one person who will go to the ends of the earth to make sure every kid has what they need to be successful academically, socially and personally. That person is Ms. Naughton.

Ms. Naughton’s case load consists of students who require substantial support for a wide range of reasons. She was made for this role, and she not only champions every single student, but fights for what they need and should have. Students connect to Ms. Naughton in a way that is beyond special. She has a way of getting them to let her in, despite the trauma many of them have endured.

Ms. Naughton puts in more hours than anyone in the building. She encourages any student with work to do to stay after school with her to get that work done. She bribes students with snacks she purchases herself. Then, she tutors them in whatever subject matter they need. Kids know that with her, they have a safe place to be themselves. A safe place to fall. A safe place to ask for help.

On evenings and Saturdays, she will often meet students at local coffee shops to do work or just to check in. She runs the credit recovery program, which is always there for the second chance to get a student graduated. She makes home visits to check in with the unengaged and somehow convinces them to return to school.

Ms. Naughton runs the pantry in her school for any student that may need some groceries or household items. During winter and spring breaks, she organizes a large food drive and sorts the donated items into more than 50 individual family packages. If the family cannot pick it up, she finds a way to get it delivered. Also on her caseload are the students who are severely disabled. Last spring, she organized an amazing end-of-year celebratory red carpet walk for the kids in that program.

Teachers regularly seek her out for advice and guidance on how to handle tough students they have not been able to reach, whether they're on Ms. Naughton's caseload or not. She often drops whatever she is doing to assist in any way possible. She serves as the collaborative team leader for her department, as well as the Vertical Team Lead. Ms. Naughton volunteered to mentor a new school counselor during virtual learning last year. She was selected to serve as principal of summer school last summer. She personally called many students before class began to welcome them to the program. Ms. Naughton is the consummate leader, always there to encourage the group to get the task done.

Unsurprisingly, Ms. Naughton also cares a great deal about her colleagues. It's important for her to recognize the successes of those around her. She regularly puts faculty members up for county employee awards. At school, she always has a kind word to pick you up on your worst day. She checks on struggling colleagues and makes herself available to listen. She organized and led a drive-by celebration during the pandemic for administrative assistants. Ms. Naughton convinced members of her department to bring in treats for the custodians to demonstrate their appreciation. She got her team to decorate their new supervisor’s office on her birthday as a special welcome. Every day is another opportunity for her to help someone else to have a great day.

"We have come to the conclusion that Ms. Naughton does not sleep and runs on solely on coffee. It is beyond us how one person can do all that she does in a day. How one person can constantly give so much of themselves and remain so endlessly kind," said Brown.

Ms. Naughton's graduated students continually reach back out to her, excited to let her know of the progress they have made in life. They're proud to show her what they have become, and they thank her for putting them on a path of success. She's forever connected to all of them.

"There are amazing people in education, but we have never worked with anyone like her. You cannot help but to be caught up in her perpetual positive attitude and her belief in people. Jacquie Naughton is everything education should be," said Brown.