LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Ali Hewer was nominated by a family member, Jason Hewer. 

Mrs. Hewer believes teaching skills students can use beyond the classroom is essential. She does this with the "Ms. Frizzle" approach. Mrs. Hewer engages the students in hands-on opportunities that make learning feel magical. She serves at a low-income school in the heart of Memphis, TN. All of her students receive free lunch. She takes her students out to care for the school garden during the school day. Many students walk to school and can come and get fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the garden to eat after school hours. She believes that giving them life skills such as gardening will provide them with the knowledge that will help them in science and teach them to become responsible citizens.

Recently, she hosted an Egyptian Festival in which parents and community members could come and see the students dressed as Ancient Egyptians and see the students present their self-led research projects on topics such as Cleopatra, The Great Sphynx, and The Book of the Dead.

Mrs. Hewer serves on school committees in her church and volunteers within the community. In 2019, she received Teacher of Distinction for her dedication to her students and their success in and out of the classroom.

She uses conflict resolution within her classroom to create an environment where students can use their vocabulary to express their feelings instead of aggression. She also has a "calm down" corner in her room; when students feel overwhelmed, they can reflect and find calm. These approaches help create a nurturing environment that gives students problem-solving and coping skills they can use throughout their lives. Mrs. Hewer actively supports her community through organizations such as Urban Bicycle Ministry, which helps provide basic needs for homeless people. She always does the right thing even when no one is looking. She often spends her weekends helping others without any recognition.