LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jamie Andrews was nominated by Kylie Andrews, one of her family members.

Ms. Andrews has been teaching for 23 years. She has spent the better part of a decade in a high poverty Title I school in Madison County, Florida. In the last seven years, she found her true passion: working with students with special needs. Ms. Andrews was teaching in a support classroom with both regular and special education students. Her biggest goal is to not only teach the special needs students to succeed, but to teach her regular education students tolerance for those who are different than them.

As the second year of kindergarten was coming to a close, she realized what an impact it would make if her special education students could remain with her, taking down that obstacle of getting to know a new teacher. Then, Ms. Andrews moved to each new grade level with the students. Each year, she learned new grade level standards and expectations, along with relocating her room. This continued from kindergarten through third grade.

When faced with the decision to move her students into a self-contained classroom, she decided to become a self-contained ESE teacher. Many of her students are like her own children because she has had them from the age of five and has seen them grow academically and, more importantly, socially. Her students' families have come to rely on her as an advocate for their children. They also know that they can come to her when they're facing personal difficulties. Often times, she's the one who makes sure the students have all that they need.

Ms. Andrews is also the president of Junior Auxiliary of Madison County, a service organization dedicated to the promotion of the well-being of children and the elderly in the community. She took on this endeavor because she knew she'd not only be able to help the students in her classroom and her school, but so many more in the community. She championed a Literacy Drive during the COVID-19 quarantine to put appropriate reading materials in the hands of children in the area. Members of the organization would hide books throughout the community for students to find. This not only got kids out of the house and gave them books to take home, but placed a value on reading. In any given week, she is delivering personal hygiene items, food items, and clothing items to the children in need. Thanksgiving and Christmas meal baskets were delivered to families in November and December that were facing food insecurities. With the help of this organization, Ms. Andrews was able to collaborate with a local business and fill the wish lists of 112 children for Christmas.  She thinks the world of her students and community, and she does all that she can to make it the best it can be.

Ms. Andrews is also a champion for the teachers. She always has an open door for teachers to come in for advice or a shoulder to lean on. She has been a mentor teacher for new teachers in the district for four years, and she continues to mentor these teachers whenever they have difficulties or need advice.

Ms. Andrews is also a union representative. She sits in on bargaining meetings to negotiate in the best interest of faculty and staff in the district, and she's a representative for those who need her guidance in the school. She also attends trainings, both during the school year and on her own time, to improve her knowledge and skill set.

Ms. Andrews works as a ClassDojo mentor to help teachers better communicate with their classroom families and develop positive classroom management skills. She's also a DonorsChoose teacher advocate. This title has allowed her to assist teachers in getting needed and wanted materials for their classrooms without reaching into their own pockets. She has attended multiple hours of training to ensure she serves her teachers effectively and is aware of all funds that teachers could receive. This school year alone, she has helped 16 teachers in the district to post and fund 52 projects through DonorsChoose worth $12,497.24 of classroom materials. She believes that once teachers see the value that others place on what they are doing, morale increases.

Her vice principal has called a guru of children with behavioral and academic needs. Administration often sends teachers to her when they are having difficulties understanding a child's learning style. Ms. Andrews is always excited to help and has a true passion for finding what clicks with a student.

Ms. Andrews has been ranked a highly effective teacher for the last six years at her current school. She was named a top inspirational teacher by Ellen DeGeneres, received Teacher of the Month for the local newspaper, was featured on a local news station for her work with teachers on DonorsChoose, and received a WCTV Envision Credit Union Teacher of the Month award from the station.

"All these things, and so much more, are the reasons why I have nominated Jamie Andrews for LifeChanger of the Year. To truly know her dedication and passion, you only have to meet her students. They are not only hers within the walls of the school, but they often flock to her when she is out in the community. These are not students who have her for just a year, but have claimed her as their teacher for the rest of their lives. She wouldn't have it any other way, " said Andrews.