LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Corey Walker was nominated by one of his colleagues.

"I have known Mr. Walker on a professional level for over ten years while he served as instructional coach, assistant principal, and now principal at Winstead Elementary School," said his colleague. "Leading an instructional team on a campus experiencing pandemic uncertainties has been a huge challenge, and he has conducted himself with the confidence and maturity of a seasoned leader."

Mr. Walker has led multiple teams at Winstead. Most notably, he led a team who was struggling with the instructional process due to being presented with virtual learning on short notice. He allowed the team to see that despite these uncertain times, student achievement remained the highest priority. This has resulted in a team that's not only a model for collaborative planning, but a team that demonstrated notable gains in student achievement. Mr. Walker is a phenomenal educator, person, and colleague.

Mr. Walker has high expectations for himself, colleagues, and especially children. He is a strong advocate for his students and their success. His ability to connect with the students and staff at Winstead parallels with his talent and skills as an administrator, which are superior. He works collaboratively with all staff and values them as people first, as he works to develop their craft. Most importantly, he works closely with parents, community stakeholders, and central office staff to ensure that the needs of all students are addressed in a timely manner. He accomplishes these tasks with great initiative and commitment.

One of Mr. Walker’s greatest strengths is his commitment to growing as a professional and leader at Winstead. He seeks out feedback and actively participates in professional development to grow and develop his knowledge, abilities, and skills as a principal. He also allows room for staff to generate new ideas to enhance school improvement and morale.

"Mr. Walker truly cares about the students and staff of Winstead and is a sounding board for their success," said his colleague.