Position: Admissions and Development Director
School: Saint Michael Roman Catholic School
School District: Saint Michael Roman Catholic School
City, State: Brattleboro, VT
Music that Describes Lindsay
Lindsay O'Neil was nominated by Mithushielah Romero, a parent of a student.
"I was a new mom here in VT, moving from IN last year. Lindsay's school made me feel welcome, loved, and safe, so I instantly knew my daughter would be safe in their fold," explains Romero. "Lindsay was one of the first teachers who included me in everything and gave me peace of mind as I am a single mom raising my kid alone in rural VT.
"She not once made me feel different nor identified, as I am a total minority everywhere. A single mom raising a kid in a Catholic school can be seen as taboo, but not in her school," said Romero. "As a mother raising three kids herself, I can see how much she does not just for my kid, but also her own kids. It is that everyday modeling of values (kindness, courtesy, inclusion, forgiveness, and love) that I put a premium on nowadays.
"It is not always the roar of picture taking during grand days, but her telling me 'It's ok, if you've forgotten your kid's lunch box for the nth time today,' or that I forgot a project for my kid. She would tell me: 'It's ok, we've got her covered,' or would give me a hug to console me when the last school shooting in Texas happened," said Romero. "I don't expect teachers to lay down their lives, but I know with absolute certainty that she will protect my kid if necessary from any harm or evil. I can feel the strength of character simply from her gentle voice and firm hug. She gives daily acts of goodness and goodwill."
"It is great peace of mind knowing that my child will never be hungry, thirsty, or cold, nor scared as she is surrounded by loving, caring teachers in her school. Their director models those values in school and how she raises her own kids, which is why I pick her as my LifeChanger of the Year."
Romero would like to honor O'Neil with this song: Hero - A song for Teachers by Julie Durden