LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Amy London was nominated anonymously.

Dr. London is a veteran educator who, throughout her career, has exemplified what it means to be a LifeChanger. Dr. London is centered on getting to know each student and his/her family.  A few years ago, she had a student in her classroom who had recently moved to the area.  Unfortunately, the student’s family was financially unable to return to their former town to get their belongings.  Dr. London personally raised $1,400 for this family to move their belongings to their new home.  On more than one occasion, Dr. London has sponsored a student to attend a school trip, paid overdue lunch money, and even helped families with vehicle repairs.  She does none of these things for fame or glory, but to help make a student’s life better.  It's not just her generosity that impacts the atmosphere of her building, but her caring attitude, as well. She strives to create a family atmosphere in her classroom where each student knows they are accepted, safe, and loved.  She is what makes the school a family.

When Turner Woods Elementary opened its doors for its first school year, money was tight, and teachers were expected to “make do.”  Dr. London purchased document cameras, overhead projectors, and other supplies so that the teachers in her grade level would have the things they needed for their classrooms.  She also wrote grants to help the school and teachers secure the more expensive items that were needed.  To date, Dr. London has written grants securing more than $12,000 for her school and school system.  The items include two SMARTboards, dictionaries, thesauri, learning centers, classroom games, iPads, netbooks, a TV, an online reading program, and a playground addition (which was written with another teacher).

Within the school, Dr. London is seen as a leader.  She is an expert in several areas of education, including curriculum, instruction, and educational policies/law. She's also a highly effective teacher. Dr. London has served as a grade level lead teacher and a member of the school improvement committee, School Council, and grant-writing teams for her school and district. She was also the writer for her school's most recent SACS review.  When a teacher has a question or needs advice, Dr. London is most often their first stop.  She regularly hosts pre-service teachers from the local colleges and universities.  With her background in curriculum, instruction, and instructional coaching, she is the perfect mentor to help the pre-service teachers prepare for their first job through student teaching.  She has extensive training in multiple areas of education and is an asset to the school and district.

Dr. London has an outstanding record of student achievement.  Whether she is teaching an inclusion class, gifted class, remedial class, or a regular class, Dr. London holds her students to a high level of expectation. On numerous occasions, her students have exceeded the state average for test scores.  Also, for several years while an inclusion teacher, 100% of her students passed the state standardized tests, including those diagnosed with learning disabilities and health issues that impact their ability to learn.  She works tirelessly with her students to ensure they succeed. She has a talent for motivating her students to work hard and believe in themselves. Her students leave her classroom prepared for the next grade level and feeling like winners!

Over the past five years, Dr. London has been instrumental in increasing student achievement in third grade.  She led two separate initiatives to increase students’ reading and narrative writing levels.  Dr. London provided professional learning for her teammates, which included training on the use of Lexile Measures, setting goals for students using Lexile Measures, and tracking student growth using Lexile Measures.  Under her initiative, the students increased from a baseline of 75% of students reading within/above their grade level Lexile band on the state standardized test, to 78% at the end of the first year.  At the end of the second year of the initiative, 84% of students were reading within/above their Lexile band as evaluated by the state standardized test. 

The narrative writing initiative was also successful.  Dr. London provided the training for teaching narrative writing and guidance in the implementation.  The State of Georgia scores the narrative writing on a 4-point scale, with 4 points being the highest score.  The baseline score for third grade was 9% of students scoring 3 points, and 1% of students scoring 4 points.  At the end of the first year of the initiative, the results were 24% of students scoring 3 points and 1% scoring 4 points.  Students continued to improve during the second year.  The results at the end of the second year were 19% of students scoring 3 points and 4% of students scoring 4 points.  Due to Dr. London’s leadership, third grade teachers improved instructional methods, and the students improved their writing skills.

"Our country is filled with teachers who are making a difference every day in the lives of children just like Dr. London; however, not all teachers are LifeChangers. Dr. London is truly a LifeChanger because she not only impacts the lives of the students she teaches, but she changes their lives.  Because of her impact on their lives, her students have hope, determination, and a belief in themselves that will continue to change their lives forever.  This is why Dr. London should be the LifeChanger of the Year for 2021-2022," said her nominator.