LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Jeffrey Larmer was nominated by an anonymous friend.

"Each of us is born with a purpose, and the best way to improve it is to use our gifts and talents to help others."

This quote is only one of the many things you'll hear Mr. Larmer remark as you walk through Sayre's hallways to success. Mr. Larmer brings his bright smiles and instills in his students and coworkers the belief that the entire globe is their community. He's discovered his calling to link kids with their passions and provide them with a platform and a voice to make a difference, no matter their challenges.

Mr. Larmer was inspired to teach due to his academic challenges. Because of its location in West Philadelphia, his school has a sizable inner-city population. A large number of students come from different parts of the world. Several students have special needs challenges, qualify for free and reduced lunch, or have learning and attention issues, behavior plans, or speech-related issues.

As a teacher, he aims to give every child an opportunity to find their passion and build on that passion towards academic success. He employs various techniques to encourage his students' excitement to achieve their goals. For example, he interacts with his students. Through role-playing, he teaches personal/social skills, hygiene, independent life skills such as cooking and clothing care, customer service skills through movie theater jobs or selling food items in the school, work competencies, and functional academics for special needs students. In addition, he takes the students out in the community to stores to learn to shop. He allows the students to partake in job skills training to learn employment skills. These abilities are crucial for special education kids to learn because they serve as a foundation for and help with the transition from school to life in the "real world." Mr. Larmer's teaching philosophy is: "Learning life skills is best accomplished by 'doing.' By 'doing,' we learn."

Mr. Larmer uses engaging methods to engage his kids in learning, such as having them create a healthy eating lunchbox or dinner plate using a variety of foods available at a grocery store. He has his students complete a mock job-hunting activity, and he sets up a simulated job market where the best applicant wins. Teens will learn to scour newspapers and online for employment openings and conduct interviews with students. He asks each student to prepare a list of expenses they believe they would incur if they lived alone.

Mr. Larmer has also made significant contributions to the teaching profession. He mentors and assists exceptional education staff with IEPs and professional development for special services. Even though this is Mr. Larmer's first time teaching a life skills class, nothing can stop him and his students once they set their minds to anything. These are just a few examples of how he and his pupils use their strengths and talents to make a difference in other people's lives.

"His kids understand that they are global change-makers due to his efforts! We are ecstatic to nominate Mr. Larmer and can't think of anyone more deserving of the LifeChanger of the Year award," said his nominator.