District Five teacher nominated for National LifeChanger of the Year Award
January 17, 2017
Spring Hill High School marketing teacher Norma Brown has been nominated for the 2016-2017 National LifeChanger of the Year award.
Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, the national LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 public and private school educators and employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.
“I thank God for allowing me to be a positive change in someone’s life,” Brown said. “If I can help someone along the way then my living will not be in vain. I am very humbled by the nomination and thank Dr. Sherry Rivers for thinking of me. I strive each day to enter a classroom or a place in the community in hopes of something I say or do will make a difference in a child’s or adult’s life to encourage them to be a better person. Changing someone’s life in a positive way is what this LifeChanger award means to me.”
A 35-year veteran teacher, Brown teaches life skills and ethical values through an understanding of marketing and economics. Brown teaches her students about the lifestyles of those who live with only the bare essentials or less, and encourages her students to volunteer. Every year, she brings her marketing students to DECA competition, where they compete and win against state and national competition in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Spring Hill High School principal Dr. Michael Lofton was full of smiles when asked about Brown saying, “We are so very proud of Mrs. Norma Brown for being nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year Award. She is being recognized as a LifeChanger in her community. That community definitely includes her school community here at Spring Hill High School. She works diligently with her students in developing their interests and passion for marketing and entrepreneurship.”
Outside the classroom, Brown regularly visits sick and elderly people at their homes, in hospitals and in nursing homes, and teaches bible study to local teenagers. She is also the director of Young Women of Excellence, a local church group that mentors girls in grades 1-12.
Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For 2016-2017, each LifeChanger has a shot of being recognized as one of their Top 15 LifeChangers of the Year. In addition, a 16th prize, the “National Spirit Award,” is given to the school and nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for his or her nomination. Each Top 15 LifeChangers winner will receive a cash award that is split between the individual winner and their school. The national Grand Prize award is $10,000. Winners are announced via surprise award ceremonies held at their schools. The top five winners will also be honored at national awards ceremony in Naples, FL. Winners will be announced in Spring 2017.
