Shawano Community Middle School counselor Rebecca Jacoby and seventh-grade teacher Tracy Laude have been nominated for the 2015-2016 national LifeChanger of the Year award.
Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, the LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 public and private school educators and employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.
Jacoby was nominated by Associate Principal Rod Watson. Laude, who teaches math and science, was nominated by Principal Mary Kramer.
Watson said Jacoby dedicates herself to her students, and works hard to help each of them overcome their challenges and be successful.
“She will stay after school hours to help her students,“ Watson said. “Even former students reach out to Jacoby. A high school student once visited Shawano Middle School to seek her help. That is the kind of dedication she shows on a daily basis.”
Kramer said Laude has all of the energy, tolerance and compassion it takes to reach her students, adding that she guides her students to success with a kind, yet firm, structure.
“She is highly involved on campus; she participates in the school’s Learning Council and serves as both the STAR Test ‘Champion’ and seventh-grade department lead,” Kramer said. “In addition, Laude is involved in the PTA bottle & box top collection and supervises a Destination Imagination team.”
Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations. For 2015-2016, 16 winners will be chosen by the selection committee to receive cash awards that are split between the individual winner and their school. The national grand prize award is $10,000. The top five winners will also be honored at a national awards ceremony.
Winners will be announced in spring 2016.
To view Jacoby’s and Laude’s nominee profiles, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.
HOW TO HELP
National Life Group Foundation this year will offer a new prize, the “LifeChanger Spirit Award,” to the LifeChanger of the Year nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for his or her nomination. Support can be demonstrated through positive comments on the nominee’s profile page, social media posts, and school and community recognition activities. A resource page with ideas for ways to celebrate nominees can be found at http://lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com/showspirit/.