Mineola Teacher Earns LifeChanger Of The Year Nomination

A Mineola High School algebra teacher was recently named a nominee for the 2017-2018 national LifeChanger of the Year award for making a difference in her students' lives.

Karen Gutierrez, who recently joined the district, was nominated by the district's assistant superintendent, Nicole Moriarty.

“Mrs. Gutierrez is truly an inspirational educator,” Moriarty said in a press release. “She is an asset to our entire community as well as a role model to all of our students.”

The LifeChanger of the Year award, sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, is awarded to educators who exemplify excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Gutierrez teaches students who recently immigrated to the United States, as well as other multilingual students who have been in the country for less than three years. She has taken the extra time to not only teach her students mathematical concepts, but teach them English as well. Read her full profile here.

LifeChanger of the Year receives hundreds of nominations from all over the United States. Seventeen individual LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given during the 2017-2018 school year.

Winners will be announced during surprise award ceremonies held at their schools. The grand prize finalists will also be honored at a national awards ceremony in spring 2018 in Bermuda, where the Grand Prize Winner will be revealed.

Winners and awards include:

• One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• Grand prize finalists will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• LifeChanger award winners will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• The Spirit Award will be given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. That person will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
• The Spotlight Award will be given to a nominee in a specific discipline year year. For 2017-2018, the award was given to Debra Santiago, who works as a secretary and bookkeeper in Orlando, FL. She received $5,000 to share with her school.

Image via Karen Gutierrez