LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Madison Ellingson was nominated by a colleague, Katie Madsen.

Mrs. Ellingson is an above and beyond teacher, leader, and friend. She goes out of her way to make sure her students and teammates have their needs met. Her enthusiam for teaching is evident in everything she does. Mrs. Ellingson is always smiling and positive, even when dealing with difficult situations. She genuinely cares about her students and their success. "You will often find her eating lunch with students in her classroom or engaging in recess games with students outside. You will never find her at her desk during the school day," Madsen said. "She is too busy interacting and engaging with her students through whole-class, small-group, and one-on-one instruction. She truly believes that each of her students can learn and achieve at high levels."

Mrs. Ellingson is an effective team leader. She guides her team to use data in making instructional decisions. She contributes to the school's building leadership team and is action-oriented in solving problems. She leads by example and thinks of every second grader as one of her students.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Ellingson is highly involved in school choir. She helps to direct this before-school club and is instrumental in its success. All of the students love her and are excited to see her in choir each week. She also attends her students' events and professional development classes. She spends several hours each week attending these classes so she can offer her students the best instruction possible. Mrs. Ellingson is also a successful grant writer and has worked hard to increase the technology available to her students. She uses technology every day to enhance her instruction and to keep her students highly engaged in learning.

"Mrs. Ellingson is just a one-of-a-kind educator. There's never a time she's not thinking about school and what she can do to be better." She is a positive influence on all those she comes in contact with. Mrs. Ellingson, without a doubt, deserves the title of LifeChanger of the Year!

Madison Ellingson In The News:
Canyons District teachers, staff nominated for national award