LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Julie Clarke-Butcher was nominated anonymously.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher is currently working on her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. She believes a positive classroom environment is one where students feel safe, supported, and valued. In a positive classroom, students are engaged in learning, have a sense of belonging, and are treated with respect.

To help create a positive environment in her classroom, she uses many different strategies. She builds strong relationships and shows genuine interest in her students' lives, interests, and experiences. She's approachable, supportive, and available to her students, and she encourages them to come to her with any questions or concerns.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher sets clear expectations, collaborates with her students to create classroom rules and expectations, and is consistent and fair in her discipline. She models the behaviors she wants to see in her students such as kindness, punctuality, and respect. She creates a safe and inclusive space and fosters an environment of mutual respect and empathy among her students.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher celebrates diversity, including cultural, learning style, and perspective differences. She addresses incidents of bullying or exclusion promptly and effectively. She fosters student engagement and uses a variety of interactive and hands-on activities, including discussions, projects, and experiential learning.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher differentiates her instruction to meet the needs of all learners and gives students choices when possible to increase their sense of ownership and investment. She encourages a growth mindset and praises effort, strategy, and persistence instead of innate intelligence. She provides constructive feedback that focuses on areas for improvement and normalizes mistakes as part of the learning process.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher creates a welcoming physical environment. She keeps her classroom clean, organized, and inviting. She displays student work, affirmations, and visuals that promote a sense of community and belonging.

Ms. Clarke-Butcher fosters collaboration and community in the classroom. She encourages teamwork and peer support through group work and activities. She and her students begin each day or week with a community-building exercise or check-in. Finally, she celebrates students' academic and personal achievements.