LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Rebecca Nguyen was nominated anonymously.

In Lockhart ISD, teaching is about far more than instruction. Good teachers shape good people—individuals who think critically, practice perseverance, and lead with courage. Great teachers go a step further. They cultivate strong, connected communities, bringing people together and creating a culture of growth, collaboration, and belonging. Coach Nguyen exemplifies this vision, showing how one educator can transform not only the life of a single student, but the culture of an entire school and community.

Coach Nguyen has been a physical education teacher at Lockhart ISD since 2020. She stepped into her role at Alma Brewer Strawn Elementary when many students were still learning from home, and the world felt vastly different from just a few months prior. On top of the many challenges posed by the pandemic, children and adolescents experienced a significant decrease in physical activity during lockdown. Nonetheless, Coach Nguyen remained undeterred, and her energy, passion, and unwavering dedication to her students became a lifeline. She didn't just teach movement; she modeled a love of being active. Her joy and enthusiasm were contagious, whether in the gym, field, or even through a computer screen.

Her efforts earned her Teacher of the Year at ABS the following school year. Her principal at the time, Dr. Benjamin Grijalva, shared, "Coach Nguyen is very committed to her students and their families. She gives herself and her time to any project she undertakes, always with her students' best interests in mind."

From there, she grew into her role as a leader at ABS and developed a deep understanding of the school and its students. Located just outside of Lockhart in rural Lytton Springs, ABS is home to nearly 400 English Language Learners. Over time, Coach Nguyen noticed something important: students in bilingual classrooms and non-bilingual classrooms often felt divided. Each class attended lunch, library, and specials separately. And at recess, a time when students could socialize freely, bilingual students typically played with other bilingual students, while primarily English-speaking students gravitated toward each other.

Coach Nguyen realized she needed to find a way to shift the subtle culture of her campus. Knowing her influence didn't end in the gymnasium, Coach Nguyen came up with an idea – one that could bring students together and transcend language. Instead of having each class attend specials separately, Coach Nguyen created teams composed of students from every class in a grade. This small but intentional change transformed ABS.

Suddenly, students who had never interacted before were learning to cooperate, communicate, and play together. Friendships began to form across linguistic and cultural lines, and the sense of community at ABS grew stronger than ever. Through this simple yet powerful innovation, Coach Nguyen showed that teaching isn't just about managing classes or completing lessons; it's about nurturing bonds, fostering inclusivity, and creating a sense of belonging.

Her approach was later adopted across all of the elementary schools, fostering a deep sense of unity in the district. She didn't stop there. In rural Lytton Springs, families wanted a place to gather and connect while supporting their children. So, Coach Nguyen went to work organizing ABS's annual Dia De Los Muertos Festival, going above and beyond to bring the plan to life. In the end, the event united students, families, and staff in a celebration of culture and heritage while shaping a meaningful school culture. What began as an idea to promote inclusion within the school grew into a celebration that brought the whole campus and neighborhood together. Through her vision and dedication, Nguyen created a campus tradition in which all stakeholders in students' success could come together, support the Lions, and build lasting connections year after year. Her legacy at ABS is reflected in the vibrant community that remains today.

This past school year, Coach Nguyen began a new role as Team Lead for all elementary physical education teachers. In this position, her influence expanded far beyond her own students at ABS. She now had the opportunity to inspire and unlock potential in her fellow PE teachers, sharing her creativity, enthusiasm, and innovative approach to building community. Through mentorship, collaboration, and leading by example, Coach Nguyen is shaping not just individual classrooms but the culture of physical education throughout Lockhart ISD.

As Team Lead, she piloted Marathon Kids at elementary campuses in Lockhart. Marathon Kids is a program that empowers students to reach their running goals, one mile at a time. Students set personal goals and track the miles they run throughout the year. When they hit a milestone, everyone celebrates, and when they achieve their goal by the end of the year, the sense of accomplishment is even greater. Students were not only motivated to run, but they also took pride in working toward their goals, learning perseverance, and celebrating both individual and collective success.

Another event she initiated was the Lockhart ISD Fifth-Grade Field Day. Fifth-grade students from all elementary schools came together at the Lockhart High School Stadium for a day of games, activities, and a little friendly competition. This event helped students form meaningful bonds with each other, showing them that no matter which school they attended, they were all Lions—part of one united community— all while having fun! Additionally, she ensured her voice was heard at the district level, serving on numerous committees alongside her full teaching responsibilities. She contributed to decision-making through her participation on the New Teacher Induction Redesign Committee, the Student Health Advisory Council, Collaborative Visioning Design Teams for two new campuses, and the District Advisory Council. Through these roles, her leadership helped shape policies, initiatives, and campuses, positively impacting students and staff within LISD.

Coach Nguyen changes lives every day—not only by fostering meaningful relationships through events and innovation, but also by simply being a beacon of light for her campus. She is someone students can always count on to cheer them on, believe in them, and encourage them to reach their fullest potential. She embodies a growth mindset, meeting her students where they are and supporting them as they work towards their goals.

Her current principal, Jamee Griebel, explains, "She champions her students no matter what. It's more than just sports or fitness, she sets out every day to be a positive force in her students' lives."

Coach Nguyen believes that every child is capable of success, no matter where they start. Now, Coach Nguyen has moved to the new campus, Borchert Loop Elementary, where she has an exciting opportunity to shape a strong school culture from the ground up. In essence, Coach Nguyen is more than a LifeChanger. She is a force that cultivates strong communities across Lockhart ISD.