LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Dianne O'Brien was nominated by her principal, Lawyer Chapman.

Mrs. O'Brien facilitates a wide range of experiences for her students to develop self-worth, a sense of belonging, and accomplishment. These experiences provide the opportunities for her students to feel like a part of the school community while being recognized and appreciated. She recognizes her students for their effort, perseverance and test score results.

Mrs. O'Brien facilitates the recognition of students who make the Honor Roll. She prepares the certificates, takes the pictures and posts them on the bulletin boards every marking period. She also facilitates all Service Learning trips, which teach students about the importance of giving back and volunteering in their community. Students go to places such as Paws Farm, South Jersey Food Bank, and Barclay Preschool. These trips provide her students with self-worth, a sense of belonging and accomplishment. 

Mrs. O'Brien is a firm believer in fostering positive staff and student relationships through providing a family-like environment of assistance, acceptance, warmth, safety and connecting with one another every day. In all situations, she expresses the glass half full philosophy. 

Mrs. O'Brien is a mentor to many of her students. She is available when students need support, motivates students to strive for excellence, supports them to achieve their academic and behavioral goals, and celebrates their accomplishments. Mrs. O'Brien knows the importance of making sure her students care for one another and feel safe in their environment. 

Mrs. O'Brien serves as a member of the School Safety Committee. She and the staff have been thoroughly trained in the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. She is active in building a positive school climate so that bullying is reduced. Her school has partnered with the Anti-Defamation League of Philadelphia to become a "No Place for Hate" school. The students have designed and created an anti-bullying mural to complement the "No Place for Hate" bulletin board. Students and staff have pledged to be respectful and civil to each other by signing the Resolution of Respect.

Mrs. O'Brien also leads students and staff in implementing her school's Core Values: respect, responsibility, citizenship, and service to others. She facilitates student volunteers to use the core values daily in the morning announcements. Under her leadership, students have created visual murals, bulletin boards and posters to bring awareness to the core values. 

For the past ten years, Mrs. O'Brien has also led a group of students in growing a school garden. She facilitates students in the planting, cultivation, watering, weighing and collection of vegetables. The vegetables are donated to the Cherry Hill Food Pantry. This year, a grand total of 342 pounds of vegetables were donated.

Cherry Hill Alternative High School firmly believes that the moral and ethical standards of the students are essential to academic achievement. Mrs. O'Brien emphasizes service learning as a vehicle for teaching and reinforcing the moral and ethical values. She provides opportunities for all students, regardless of the behavioral level attained. The average participation rate on a service trip is over 90% of the student body. 

"Beyond the classroom, student-led co-curricular activities are encouraged," Chapman said. "Mrs. O'Brien facilitates our school initiatives in environmental, school beautification, and gardening. These initiatives help our students to realize how our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship and Service to Others are relevant in their lives and not just within the walls of our building."