LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Richard Montgomery was nominated by Berlinda N. Mack, his principal.

Mr. Montgomery's job duties include working with students to eliminate disruptive and harmful behaviors and replace them with positive behaviors and actions. He works with the students to develop targeted strategies to reduce problematic behaviors and encourages productive behaviors through positive reinforcement. Mr. Montgomery provides ongoing assessments of progress, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention. He goes above and beyond the scope of his duties to ensure that the students have the support they need to eliminate and reduce negative behaviors in school.  

"Mr. Montgomery is very dedicated to his job and the profession, and he gives so much of himself to our school community," explains Mack.

Mr. Montgomery arrives to work early every morning dressed in his starched shirt and necktie to assist with bus duty. He is the first person that students see when they exit the bus. He is there to offer encouraging words and support, which motivates students to start their day off on a positive note.

"As they get off the bus, you'll hear him say, 'Have a good day,' 'I know you can do it,' and other words of encouragement," said Mack.

Mr. Montgomery is the last to leave every day as he serves on afternoon bus duty. He is there until the last bus leaves. He assists with ensuring students are loaded on the appropriate bus and communicates with the drivers any concerns that may be helpful to ensure a safe trip home and to de-escalate unnecessary behavior issues.
  
Mr. Montgomery is a role model in his school. He is very easy-going and soft-spoken, yet this gentle-natured man has the respect and admiration of every student in the school, especially the male population. Mr. Montgomery has a manner in which he relates and communicates positively with them. Mr. Montgomery is active in the community, serving as a long-time coach for the local high school and county recreational football teams. His former and current players respect and regard him as a man of character and integrity. Mr. Montgomery is a leader in his community and church, as well as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. 

What makes Mr. Montgomery stand out from the others is that he began his career in the school as a custodian. He worked his way up to head custodian and then transitioned as the Behavior Interventionist for the school. During his time as custodian, he built a strong relationship with the students and provided the support and mentorship many of the students needed. Then, he was recruited as a school-level mentor, eventually becoming chair of the Man Power Boys Club. His work with this program paved the way for his hiring as the Behavior Interventionist for the school.

"This brings us to why we're here," said Mack. "I could go on and on about Mr. Richard Montgomery, but this award speaks for itself. A LifeChanger is someone who 'has an effect that is strong enough to change someone's life.' Mr. Montgomery has certainly changed the lives of many of our students throughout his time at Kenneth Gardner Elementary," said Mack. "He has a way of working with students and people in general, and everything about him shows that he has a genuine love and concern for helping people. We have seen students move from displaying very violent behaviors to becoming class leaders and honor students. This work is reflected in our school-wide discipline data and student achievement levels showing academic growth."

Mr. Montgomery is hardworking, trustworthy, and dedicated.