LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Steffani Thompson was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

"Mrs. Thompson is an exemplary counselor, leader, teacher, and professional," explains her colleague. "As a counselor, she conducts all of the expected duties: FAFSA nights, credit checks, meetings with parents and students, ACT planning and preparation, etc.  However, no counselor I've ever met has done so with the incredible eye toward inspiring students that she does."

Mrs. Thompson considers the needs of each and every student, whether it's academic, social-emotional, career, or home supports. Students and parents alike trust her completely to advise them on what will be best (not easiest) for their futures.  She communicates with families late into the night and over weekends. She has been known to drive to seniors' houses in late May, when their graduation is in jeopardy. Mrs. Thompson picks them up and ensures they make that last push towards diploma attainment.  She exemplifies her district's vision of "changing the world."  She changes the world for the better with each student she mentors.

Mrs. Thompson is also the leader of the district's Student Support Team. Not all counselors also have the capacity to create system-level change designed to impact all students for the better. Mrs. Thompson does. This team, consisting of the district's counselors, social workers, and administrators, focuses on regularly reviewing Tier 1, 2, and 3 SEL practices and interventions.  The team developed the district's World Class Relationships Framework, which provides a comprehensive and detailed vision of how to positively shape the affective environment of the schools.  The team also reviews challenging cases in order to collaborate around the most appropriate responses.

Mrs. Thompson teaches every day, too!  She is one of White Pine High School's Senior Achievement teachers.  Senior Achievement is a course designed to help students transition from high school to post-secondary success.  They experience preparing taxes, writing resumes, completing job applications, interviewing, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and more.  At the end of the course, they prepare and deliver a presentation to their parents, a faculty member, a business representative, and a community member.  Students consistently rank this course as one of their favorites.  

As a professional, Mrs. Thompson is exemplary.  She embodies the district's values of "being truthful but kind," "thinking win-win," "showing empathy through action," "seeking to understand," and more.  She arrives early and stays late. Mrs. Thompson is among the first to volunteer for the greater good.  She is trusted and respected by everyone.