LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jessica Steffans was nominated by Ann Marie Triplett, a parent of a student.

Mrs. Steffens has laid the foundation for hundreds of students to become successful in their education. Teaching is tough, but teaching kindergarten is another level. Mrs. Steffens gets students from all backgrounds and levels of experience with school. She truly puts every waking moment and ounce of energy into loving and teaching "her babies."

Recently, Mrs. Steffens encountered a student who was blind and had no experience with school or other therapies. She took this student in and, with every resource she could find, taught him to read with Braille. She did this on top of teaching all of the other students, with their own challenges, to read. Mrs. Steffens taught students in that class about having compassion for one another and the power of kindness.

"My daughter, who was in that class, loved every exciting moment with her. She always stops by and gives Mrs. Steffens hugs. Every former student still does," said Triplett. "Mrs. Steffens's students are so lucky to have her at the start of their school careers because she is a LifeChanger."