LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Erin Fortenberry was nominated by a family member, Ron Fortenberry.

When Ms. Fortenberry started school, she intended to be a doctor and help people. God had other plans and called her to teach. She has helped train others to become doctors and nurses as a teacher. Ms. Fortenberry has had students go on to be successful in other medical professions and Science related fields. She has a Master's in Education. Ms. Fortenberry has been the Science department chair for over a decade. She has been North Pike High School Teacher of the Year multiple times. Last year, Ms. Fortenberry was runner-up for the Mississippi Teacher of the Year. She became a Google-certified trainer to help the staff and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been awarded a Toyota Tapestry grant and other smaller grants to help purchase items to enrich instruction in her classroom.

She always goes above and beyond for her students. She writes numerous recommendation letters yearly for her current and former students for scholarships and other awards. She advises them while they are in her classroom and after in career choices and classes that they need to excel. She loves her students like she does her own kids. She is a wonderful mother and wife. She is unselfish with her time and a blessing to her colleagues, family, and students.