LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Lauren Cramer was nominated by her spouse, Jeff Cramer.

"Mrs. Cramer is my wife, and I know firsthand the impact she has had on so many of her students," said Jeff. "I get to see the work, time, and effort she puts into her students that no one else can see behind the scenes. No teacher works as hard and dedicates their time as she does."

Mrs. Cramer is in her fifth year of teaching seventh-grade life science. In just her first four years of teaching, she was chosen as her school's Teacher of the Year for her outstanding work and the impact she has made on her school. Mrs. Cramer was also a Teacher of the Year Finalist for her district. She is a leader in STEM education and has a passion for helping her students develop 21st-century skills they will need to be competitive in their future careers. She received her National STEM Certification and led the way for her school to become a Nationally STEM certified campus, which is a title only two percent of middle schools in the United States can claim. Mrs. Cramer was one of the twenty-four teachers selected for the Don Cargill STEM Scholar Award for Georgia educators because of her commitment to STEM education. This year, she was chosen as one of thirty teachers in the Nation by the National Science Teaching Association to participate in the "Scaling up for STEM" initiative sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Foundation. 

Mrs. Cramer believes STEM can immensely impact students, especially young girls. She knows women only make up one-third of the STEM careers in the United States and works to help promote STEM-related careers for the young ladies in her school. Mrs. Cramer sponsors The Purple PEARLS, which aims to help young girls strengthen their social and emotional wellness, develop plans to meet short and long-term academic and career goals, educate students on etiquette and social graces, and understand the importance of service to their community. She schedules opportunities for prominent women in her community to serve as guest speakers, such as boutique owners, school resource officers, Miss West Georgia, and skincare professionals. The guest speakers have spoken on an array of topics and specialties. Mrs. Cramer has made such a difference in the lives of these young ladies and encourages them to reach for the stars in all they aim to accomplish. She nurtures these young ladies and provides support in whichever area they may need, whether it be academic support, high school readiness, tutoring, or just being someone they can confide in. 

In addition to the Purple PEARLS, Mrs. Cramer is the head sponsor for the Jr. Beta club. The four pillars of the club include achievement, leadership, character, and service. She has established a partnership between her club and the city of Villa Rica by having her students complete various service projects that result in donations to their town. These donations go towards city parks, cemeteries, or wherever there is a need within the city. She has instilled the love of service in so many of her students, and no one has ever seen pre-teens more eager to do service for the greater good. Not only is Mrs. Cramer making a difference in her community, but she is creating a culture that promotes a love for being a volunteer that does not ask for anything in return. 

Because she is a science teacher, she has a unique opportunity to encourage future careers that include science. A few years ago, Mrs. Cramer had a student who was not very interested in science, and as the school year progressed, the student began showing more interest in her class. She will be a high school senior next year who wants to attend college to be a surgeon because of the frog dissections she did in Mrs. Cramer's class.

"Together, Lauren and I have watched this young lady grow into the person she is today, and her parents have told us that Lauren's class made a difference in her life," said the nominator.

Mrs. Cramer is currently working to create an outdoor classroom space where students can learn in nature and gain an appreciation for the life around them. All students in the school will be able to use the outdoor space, and it will encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. She always goes the extra mile to make a difference for her students and is loved by everyone around her. 

"Her accolades speak for themselves, but she makes an even bigger mark on the lives of the students she teaches daily," said the nominator. "There is no more caring and compassionate teacher than my wife. Thank you for considering her for this honor."