LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Karen McCormick was nominated by her principal, Mark Deblois.

Ms. McCormick epitomizes a committed teacher in a small-town school that is not imbued with tremendous resources. Whitefield Elementary School is her hometown school, and she has spent many years building a reputation for caring. She is one of those rare individuals who "puts her money where her mouth is" as she identifies needs and activities that she knows will build the strengths and character of children and then dedicates the time and energy to ensure those visions reach fruition. From organizing the long-standing National Junior Honor Society, to expanding the Gardening Project, to chaperoning class trips and monthly middle school dances, Ms. McCormick will always devote her time to the enhancement of the experience of students in her building. However, Ms. McCormick's support for individuals doesn't stop at the school door. As a member of the Whitefield community, she has sponsored fundraising activities for families dealing with trauma and participated in events supporting local community causes. She has even become what she calls the "Amish Uber," as she provides transportation for several Amish families within the community.  

Beyond the many admirable and noteworthy contributions mentioned above, Ms. McCormick has been the leader of a movement throughout her school district to reorient disciplinary processes to a Restorative Practices approach. The hallmark of Restorative Practices in schools is building and maintaining positive relationships with all learners. When issues occur, they are seen through a lens that seeks to understand what has happened, identify who has been harmed, and build a plan for repairing the harm and moving forward. This couples with a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, which Ms. McCormick was instrumental in implementing, to significantly change the tenor of the building. These efforts have helped to create a much more personalized and humane environment within the school and district.

Sometimes, Ms. McCormick is seen as the "drill sergeant with a heart" as she holds students to very high standards and believes firmly in their ability to become fully realized, productive members of society. However, never lost in these expectations is the degree to which Ms. McCormick personally cares about each individual. She wants the very best for them and shows them the path to achieving their hopes and aspirations. She accomplishes this while having both a child in high school and one in college.