LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Tiana Tassinari was nominated by her colleague, Nia Brown.

“Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.” - Cherrie Moraga

This quote is the core of Mrs. Tassinari’s educational practices. When you enter her space, you are reminded to “breathe.” Mrs. Tassinari begins and ends each class with wellness rituals to empower students holistically. She teaches her students that there is power in focusing on their mental health first to be successful in their academics. She is a gift to East Boston High School, and she is gifted in seeing the “unseen” faculty and students. Mrs. Tassinari gives compassion and space for students to explore their world holistically, while implementing rigorous lessons for students with disabilities.

"I have observed Mrs. Tassinari teaching her students to advocate for themselves in their IEP meetings and giving her students the power to say, 'I do not agree with this,'" said Brown.

Mrs. Tassinari has received numerous awards for her personal academic expectations, such as the Presidential Global Scholarship, which allowed her to teach English in Piedmont, Italy. She's dedicated to the community of East Boston and has made it her mission to pay it forward by returning to her alma mater: “Eastie." She was born and raised in East Boston, and she played girls ice hockey and softball for the school she currently teaches at. Mrs. Tassinari is truly an exemplar of a “home-grown educator” who understands the dynamics of what her students face every day. She's passionate about the future of the youth in our world, and she seeks to develop programs that emphasize emotional wellness for students on a global scale, as she believes that wellness is wholeness. Mrs. Tassinari is on the East Boston Athletic board and East Boston Girls Softball Board. She's also a coach in the major league division and certified in wellness practices.

“My favorite observation of Mrs. Tassinari is her teaching her students who have various disabilities to be empowered. She intentionally teaches them how to advocate for themselves using wellness techniques. As a colleague, Mrs. Tassinari will model wellness by booking an online yoga class, listening to Reiki music, and encouraging educators to know that it's okay not to be okay, especially in an active pandemic, which is forgotten too often," said Brown. "Mrs. Tassinari is a walking beam of light, not only for East Boston High School, but the city of East Boston. Therefore, I nominate her as a LifeChanging educator."