LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Terri Lenzenhuber was nominatee by a colleague, Kim Clements.

Ms. Lenzenhuber has spent the past 16 years as the Early Childhood Special Education Paraprofessional for the Montgomery County R-2 School District. In that time, she has made an impact on the lives of countless students. These children come to know her as a friend, a teacher and source of comfort and calmness.

"Our district is in a small, rural area in the middle of Missouri," Clements explained. "For some of our students, coming to school when they turn 3 is their first experience outside of the home. It can be a scary time for any child, expecially those who may not be able to talk or walk. Our students have varying disablities and delays, ranging from speech delays to traumatic brain injuries and autism. Terri however, focuses on their abilities and what they can do, rather than what they cannot."

Ms. Lenzenhuber treats all students with kindness, patience and love. Where some may see limitation, Ms. Lenzenhuber only sees a chance to help a child overcome.

"They are all sweet little souls who deserve the absolute best," said Clements. "She encourages them, hugs them, and loves them unconditionally."

Ms. Lenzenhuber's job is not an easy one, and most who hold her position "burn out" within 3-5 years. She can often be heard saying "I will do this job as long as I can" and that "I get more from the kids than they get from me."

"As the teacher that gets to work along side her, she is an inspiration to me on a daily basis," said Clements. "As a co-worker she makes me want to be a better person. Her performace is outstanding. Aside from going the extra mile in our classroom, she shows up early each day for her morning gym duty to ensure the doors are unlocked right on time so that our students are not waiting outside any longer than needed in the cold."

Schools, as sad as it is, can be a place of gossip and catty behavior. Ms. Lenzenhuber does not engage in any way shape or form in this behavior. She creates a more positive culture within her building by upholding high moral and ethical standards, as well as doing what is right and just.

Ms. Lenzenhuber has made a difference in ways that are simply unmeasurable. For students on the autism spectrum she provides sensory input when she begins to see frustration. For children who are upset and non-verbal, she swoops in and provides a warm hug and lap, rocking the child until they are calm.

"In the 11 years we have worked together, I have witnessed these moments time and time again," Clements said. "I could list 1,000 instances where she steped up, stepped in and made a difference in a child's life. I know this not only as her co-worker, but also as a parent of a special needs child."

"During our sixth year teaching together, I learned I was pregnant," Clements explained. "At my 20 week ultrasound, I learned my son, Evan, had hydrocephalus. This condition resuts in a variance of delays from mild to severaly disabled. Evan's case was moderate to severe, but he has proved many doctors wrong. On his third birthday, he was able start in our program, and Mrs. Terri has helped him grow, learn, and feel love within our school community. As a parent, that is my greatest hope. That those entrusted to care and teach Evan do so to the fullest capacity. Terri does this. As a teacher, I am blessed beyond measure to have Mrs. Terri as my classroom para. As a parent of special needs child I am in awe of what she does on a daily basis.  She has not only changed our students lives, but mine as well."