Congratulations to Kristen Kicklighter, English and history teacher at Balfour Education Center, for being nominated for National Life Group’s 2014-2015 national LifeChanger of the Year award!
LifeChanger of the Year is an annual program created in 2012 by the financial service company to recognize and celebrate K-12 educators and school system employees who impact students’ lives through leadership and positive influence.
Nominated for the award by her students, Kicklighter stands to win up to $5,000 for herself and $5,000 for Balfour, if she’s chosen as one of the Top Ten LifeChanger of the Year winners and takes the national prize. The First Runner-Up splits a $7,000 prize with his or her school, the Second Runner-Up splits $5,000, and seven LifeChangers each receive $1,500 for themselves and $1,500 for their schools.
Mallorie Manosh, director of corporate marketing with National Life Group and LifeChanger program manager, said the selection committee will read through hundreds of profiles after the nomination period ends Jan. 31, 2015, and will check the comments left on the LifeChanger blog in support of each nominee.
“If there are testimonials from students that they can provide, that’s always helpful to see those real life examples,” Manosh said.
Balfour student Kimberly Raines, 18, said Kicklighter deserves to win the award because her passion for her students is evident – which encourages them to pursue excellence both in and out of the classroom.
“If I feel like I’m wanted and appreciated, I’m going to work harder,” Raines said.
Since she teaches the freshman English class, Kicklighter makes an impression on students as soon as they begin at Balfour.
“I specifically put her in that role because the new students who come in will have a role model,” said Balfour principal Kent Parent.
Kicklighter said she doesn’t allow her students to wallow in their hardships, but instead presents to them their own bright futures that are attainable through successful classwork, wise decision-making and preparation.
“I’m not letting them use their excuses as crutches,” she said.
At the same time, Kicklighter makes sure her students know she’s there for them – for academic help, emotional support or advice.
“She’s offered me advice countless times,” Raines said. “She’s like a second mom.”
Kicklighter said she wants to be part of her students’ support systems because she knows firsthand how much impact a teacher can have on a young adult’s life.
She said, “I was like them when I was their age,” and had a troubled home life, and was too distracted by her emotional needs to focus on schoolwork.
“One special teacher … knew she had to feed those other things before she could feed my mind,” Kicklighter said.
“The facts are, (our) students are coming from diverse, nontraditional home settings,” Parent said. “But she doesn’t make that a problem.”
“I don’t need anybody’s history before they come in,” Kicklighter said.
Kicklighter was recently interviewed for a video spot that will run during the high school sports show, “Sports Stars of Tomorrow,” which airs Sundays at 10 a.m. on Charlotte-based ABC affiliate, WSOC TV. The show, sponsored in part by National Life Group, will air nominees’ to promote the LifeChanger program, and Kicklighter’s vignette is slated to air during the Jan. 11 show.
If you’ve been positively impacted by Kicklighter’s teaching, be sure to leave a comment on her page on the LifeChanger blog at http://lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com/2014/10/20/kristen-kicklighter/.