Wilson Vance teacher nominated as 'LifeChanger'

FINDLAY — Amber Elliott, a fifth-grade teacher at Wilson Vance Intermediate School, has been nominated for National Life Group's 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year award. The national award recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership. Elliott is in her 24th year at Findlay City Schools, having started as a high school algebra teacher before moving into the elementary schools. She also previously worked as the district's math coach, and is the lead mentor for teachers in their first or second year of teaching. "I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was probably six," Elliott said, recalling teachers sending her home with extra workbooks that would otherwise be thrown away. She would use them to "play teacher" with neighborhood children. A Findlay native, Elliott graduated from Findlay High School in 1998. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Findlay and is now working toward her principalship. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed making meaningful connections with students. When she started teaching at the high school level, then in her early twenties, the students thought she was "cool" as someone not much older than they were. She's still in touch with some of those students. Her interest in math was part of what led her to fifth grade when she decided to teach younger children. The math in fifth grade isn't "too easy" and she could see how it led to the math students would later learn in middle school and high school. "Fifth grade kind of seemed like a cool age," she said. The students are "still kids," who like to play games and for the most part still enjoy school, but at the same time their communication skills and sense of humor are richer and more mature. "They get sarcasm" at this age, for example, she said. She returned to Wilson Vance after the math coach role, and is in the same classroom where she previously taught. Elliott had built a good relationship with Lyndsey Stephenson, the principal, while she was the math coach. "I wanted Amber to come here because of her expertise," Stephenson said. "She's very strong in math and a natural leader." Stephenson described Elliott as "very light-hearted," a teacher who expects children to follow the rules but also "makes learning fun for the kids, and engaging." Elliott said she had never heard of the LifeChanger award. When she first received an email about it, her first reaction was "this is junk." She later learned it was in fact a genuine email. Elliott had been anonymously nominated. A press release from LifeChanger stated that Elliott was nominated because student voice is central to her teaching approach, and she actively listens to her students and encourages them to take ownership of their education. "Through her intentional practices, Ms. Elliott creates a safe, inclusive environment where every student can thrive," said the nominator in a statement provided by LifeChanger. Findlay City Schools shared a link to Elliott's nomination page on Facebook, encouraging supporters to leave comments. One commenter, identified as Tatiana, said she knew Elliott from freshman year algebra in 2004. "You were so funny and helpful," Tatiana wrote. "I always appreciated the time you took to spend with me after class." Adrian Cooper said Elliott's mentorship when he was a student teacher is continuing to help a decade into his own work teaching in another school district. "One day, I remember she was instructing the class to find a space for 20 minutes of silent reading time. I saw her reading a book during this time as well. I was thinking that she probably had so many other things to do like grade papers or work on planning," Cooper wrote. "I asked her later why she was also reading during that time and she told me that she was intentionally modeling what she expected the students to do and that she especially wanted to model it for the students who don't see their adults reading for pleasure at home." Audrey, another commenter, described Elliott as "so much more than a teacher to me. She was a role model, someone I could look up to. The impact that she made on myself and other students is remarkable. Fifth grade was a very difficult time for me. I was being picked on and had just lost my brother and my grandpa within a few months span. Miss Elliott went SO out of her way to make me feel loved and appreciated, and that is honestly something I will never forget. You meet a lot of teachers in your life time, but the special ones you always remember. That is Miss Elliott to me. She was so inspiring to me. So much so, that I wanted to impact future students the same way she impacted me. So I went to BGSU for Early Childhood Education. And here I am, a preschool teacher! I cannot imagine being someone's 'Miss Elliott' but I hope to someday become half the woman she is." Now 22, Audrey had Elliott as her teacher in fifth grade. "If you get the chance to see Miss Elliott being the true life changer that she is, take it," Audrey advised. "Go to her classroom. See the way she radiates love and joy. You feel safe and loved the second you walk into the room. No matter what else is going on in your life, when you walk in that room, you know you are loved." Elliott said she was touched reading these reflections. "I was definitely shocked, flattered" to be nominated, she said, adding, "It's just nice to be recognized." Elliott's profile can be found at https://tinyurl.com/3dbjtfrv. "We're lucky to have Amber," Stephenson said.