LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Anna Mahler was nominated by her colleague, Jessica Smedley.

Mrs. Mahler has been an integral part of the staff at Hillsborough Middle School for twenty-five years. Mrs. Mahler epitomizes the role of a LifeChanger in her daily work with students, their families, and the entire school community. She works tirelessly to create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and welcoming school atmosphere. As the school’s only Student Assistance Counselor, Mrs. Mahler works with students individually, in small groups, and in classrooms to promote mental health and wellness so that students can be available for learning and growth. 

Mrs. Mahler leads the school’s climate and safety team as part of her role as the Anti-Bullying Specialist. Mrs. Mahler engages a diverse group of educators, administrators, and community members in this committee to build and sustain a climate of inclusion and belonging for all students. She leads this committee and builds capacity within the school by including students’ voices in decision-making. This year’s school climate theme is “Growing Stronger Together,” and daily, Mrs. Mahler ensures that every student has a voice and a sense of belonging.

One of Mrs. Mahler’s greatest strengths is her ability to vocalize her advocacy for marginalized students. She is a leader among her peers and can also engage other professionals in acts of service. Mrs. Mahler does most of this work quietly and behind the scenes, using her counseling skills to understand what students need from school personnel and how to connect them to the services that would benefit them most. One should never mistake her work behind the scenes for being silent. In fact, she regularly challenges the status quo and works to disrupt the systems that have historically marginalized students. 

Mrs. Mahler’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is evident in every action she takes while in school. Mrs. Mahler has been a staunch advocate for the Gender Support Alliance at her school. She was also instrumental in forming and supporting HMS BoroCARES (Coalition for Antiracist Education and Schools), designed to elevate students’ voices about issues related to diversity and equity in the school district. She is an educator-leader in developing and delivering professional development seminars on topics around diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as trauma-sensitive schools. 

Mrs. Mahler has a strong commitment and demonstrated leadership in BoroSAFE, a school and community partnership for suicide awareness and prevention. Under her leadership and advocacy, BoroSAFE has hosted online and in-person mental health and wellness fairs and other events to elevate and de-stigmatize conversations about mental health.
 
Mrs. Mahler’s commitment to students’ well-being is at the forefront of everything she does. While it’s difficult to quantify how many lives she’s changed during her twenty-five years at Hillsborough Middle School, it is obvious to thousands of students, families, and staff members how much of a LifeChanger she is!