LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Bryan Bolton was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

"Bryan started his student teaching in August 2020. Before that, he would come to observe my classroom, so he had an idea of teaching. From the start, Bryan would find ways to serve the classroom, from fielding students' questions to putting together individual lab kits. He would carry out tasks without being asked to do them," said the colleague.

"Bryan is also engaging and creative. He thinks outside of the box. Throughout my observations of Bryan as a student teacher and a first-year teacher, he showed exceptional classroom management skills. Bryan had a rapport with students, colleagues, and parents characterized by mutual respect. Students came to class with enthusiasm for what Bryan was going to teach them that day," said the colleague.

"What is most important about Bryan is his ability to adapt to difficult teaching situations. When he noticed students were not talking and discussing the material, he asked me to brainstorm ideas that would encourage students to talk, be accountable for ideas, and stay safe within the guidelines of social distancing. Students appreciated his kind manner, which made him easy to approach, and they respected him as a teacher. It is also important to note that Bryan is also adept at implementing scaffolding for students in need of help to achieve those high standards he sets. He works to improve the science education of all students in his classroom," said the colleague.

Mr. Bolton also writes items for the Missouri Assessment Program. He is a valued member of the writing teams in which experienced teachers seek his feedback on things they have written. Like other educators on the writing teams, Mr. Bolton views the opportunity as professional learning for his work in the classroom. During the writing workshops, he gets to think deeply about the Missouri Learning Standards and network with other science educators across the state.

"Bryan has my highest recommendation to be a recipient of the LifeChanger of the Year," said his colleague. "He expects a lot from himself as well as his students. He reflects on his performance daily and appreciates critiques of his performance because he wants to improve."