LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Joel DeGraaf was nominated by an anonymous family member.

Mr. DeGraaf, also known as "Captain" by his students, has worked at Loughman Oaks Elementary School (LOE) for 14 years. He has taught many different grade levels in those years, starting with 3rd and 5th grade, and now serves as the Media Specialist. He wanted to do more for all students by reaching them in the library.

Mr. DeGraaf leads by example and instills a love for reading in his students. LOE students compete in the ITV Team each year and have taken home many first and second place awards, trophies, and ribbons due to his excellent teaching and influence. His character is impeccable, and he exudes leadership among his colleagues and parents.

Mr. DeGraaf has fought tirelessly to make sure the students of LOE have every opportunity to succeed in life. Over the years, he has asked the community for donations, started fundraisers, hosted family nights, and gathered and purchased clothes and shoes for students in need. Mr. DeGraaf is always on the lookout for any opportunity he can use to help his students further their education. He uses the tools in the library to intrigue his students. Having no children of his own, Mr. DeGraaf cares about his students as if they were his own.

Mr. DeGraaf is amazing. If you ever have the pleasure of listening to him read a book to a child or a small group of children, you will instantly see why this man captivates anyone he encounters.

"I have worked with Mr. DeGraaf for several years, and he is phenomenal. He has a deep passion for his job and genuinely loves working with children," said the nominator.

Mr. DeGraaf has impacted the lives of so many students and families at Loughman Oaks. He motivates students to become better readers and gives them the resources to do so. He has taken a media center in need of a major overhaul and transformed it into an inviting environment with numerous types of reading materials to reach the interests and needs of the students. He has raised money in many ways to provide incentives for students and add additional books to the media center. Mr. DeGraaf has put many school-wide events in place to recognize good behavior, such as a Masquerade Ball, Winter Wonderland, and a Spring Carnival, to name a few. The school does not require the students to pay to attend, but the students earn these events by making positive choices. Mr. DeGraaf also works on ITV (the school's morning program) to help film and create morning shows. He spends countless hours editing and preparing them for the school, as well as for the county-wide competition. These things are way above and beyond his "job" as a media specialist.

"Joel is committed to letting everyone know about the many great things going on at Loughman Oaks, an area that many have neglected. He creates the annual yearbook to make sure all children are in the yearbook (no easy feat with over 1,200 students). On Picture Day, Joel spends countless hours taking pictures of over 500 students on his own. He also takes the time to insert them into the yearbook to make sure every child can feel the joy of belonging," said the nominator.

In addition to his duties as a Media Specialist, Mr. DeGraaf is actively involved with committees and student clubs. He's also part of the SAC committee, making an impact in his school and building relationships within the community. Mr. DeGraaf is a LifeChanger and inspirational leader to his students. He shops on the weekends for these events, taking great care to acknowledge what the students love.

"Joel's dedication to our students is evident every school day," said the nominator. "Whether he's comedically reading to our students in the Media Center (oh, the voices!) or throwing an AR party, he is a powerful presence in their lives. He works to make our school the greatest in the universe. I doubt you will find a more deserving person to win this award. If you look at his body of work and all that he has done for his school, you will see that one man can make a difference, has made a difference for several years, and will continue to make a difference for the years to come."