Teacher at Rexford/Longfellow Elementary School recognized

By Bert Lehman

Jean Morgan, a fourth grade teacher at Rexford/Longfellow Elementary School in Clintonville, has been nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year award.

According to the LifeChanger of the Year web site, it “is an annual program that recognizes and rewards K-12 education professionals and school district employees.”

Nominees make a positive difference in the lives of students. Anyone can nominate someone for this recognition, including students who have the support of an adult if the student is under 18 years old.

Also according to the LifeChanger web site, nominees are recognized in the following ways:

• Each nominee will have a unique profile built on the LifeChanger web site so that their story can be shared. Colleagues, students, friends and family – anyone who supports the nominee – can visit the profile and leave a positive comment.

• LifeChanger shares the nominee’s profiles and stories on Facebook and Twitter.

• LifeChanger sends congratulatory posters to school administrators to help them celebrate the nominees in their district.
• Each nominee also receives a personalized certificate.

Each nominee is also eligible to be named one of the Top 10 LifeChangers of the Year, which brings the chance at cash and prizes for them and their school.

Morgan said she was surprised and excited by the nomination. She was nominated by Rexford/Longfellow Elementary School Principal Tami Bagstad.

“It is very nice to know that my principal believes I am worthy of such an honor,” Morgan said.

Remembering her interview for her current position, she said she was asked what she thought was the most important profession.

“It was in that moment, that I realized, I believed with all my heart, the most important profession was that of a teacher,” Morgan said. “Teaching impacts every other profession there is. Teaching impacts the future.”

Being nominated was also humbling, Morgan said.

“I am very fortunate to have worked with and continue to work with an amazing group of educators,” Morgan said. “They are dedicated professionals who devote themselves to doing whatever it takes to ensure the success of their students. They are all life changers.

“As a teacher, I have never been in this alone. As a teacher, you can’t be in it alone. You have to work together, share what you know, share what you learned, share successes, and share your failures. The educators I’ve worked with in the past, my current colleagues, and the educators I had as a student, have all shaped me into the educator that I have become. They have changed my life.”

Morgan added that she hopes she has positively impacted the lives of her students.

“I hope that the time, effort, and love that I have invested in my ‘kids’ over the years has made a difference in some way,” Morgan said.

To view Morgan’s page on the LifeChanger web site, visit www.lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com/jean-morgan/.

The top 10 LifeChangers of the Year will be announced in the spring.