LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Opal Yates was nominated by an anonymous colleague.  

"When I think about a LifeChanger, I think of Opal Yates," explains her colleague. "She embodies school spirit and pride in her small town of Bowdon, Georgia. As a faculty member of BES, she takes on the responsibility of positively interacting with many students, not just the students on her caseload. She is a role model to many and is always willing to go the extra mile. She takes on extra responsibilities to make our school and town a better place." 

Ms. Yates volunteers and coaches at the recreation department when a team needs a coach. She has the attitude that the children come first. This attitude is also evident in her job at BES. Her role as a special education teacher requires her to work with many children with various disabilities, including behavioral and academic. However, that does not stop her from assisting other students and helping her colleagues. She will work with other teachers to support their classroom with struggling students and aid the teacher with strategies and checklists to help a child succeed. 

During the school day, along with her duties as a teacher, she graciously gives her time to plan and develop schedules for students to best meet their needs. She serves on committees that promote a positive school climate. Ms. Yates also gives her time to help with day-to-day operations to ensure the school runs smoothly and all children are safe. Her students know that they are loved and supported. If needed, Ms. Yates makes home visits. She gives much more than love to her students; to ensure they're well taken care of, she is willing to give her own money to purchase items they need, whether they need clothes, personal hygiene products, or school supplies. Ms. Yates is a LifeChanger for so many students!