Educator Cristen Culver Quietly Makes Life Better In Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Gracemarie Garlen who nominated Cristen Culver of Bel Air.

Local hero’s full name

Cristen Culver

Local hero’s home state

Maryland

Local hero’s Patch

Bel Air

How do you know the local hero?

She is the assistant principal at my child's school

What does the local hero do?

She is the assistant principal at Bel Air Elementary School

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

Mrs. Culver is committed to working hard for her students and their families every day. She wants nothing more than for all the students at Bel Air Elementary School to be able to come to school and feel safe and happy so that that they can grow and learn. As anyone at BAES will tell you, Mrs. Culver has a contagious laugh that puts everyone at ease and makes the kids enjoy being at school. Sometimes when I am dropping my kids off, between the fun music playing outside and hearing Mrs. Culver's cheerful voice, it sounds more like I am bringing them to an amusement park than a school building. Mrs. Culver greets every child as they enter the school by name. She gets to know them and remembers what their likes, interests and daily struggles are. She is so easy to talk to as a parent because she is the mother of three children who are elementary age as well. When her kids are playing sports and she sees another BAES family on the field, she makes sure to go over to them and make a connection. She can often be overhead in the hallway asking a student how they did at their last practice and asking them when their next practice is. I have felt comfortable enough to call Cristen Culver on the phone to ask questions, share concerns or offer suggestions multiple times over the past several years. Each time, she is incredibly warm and welcoming and I end the call feeling heard and appreciated. When my child first came back to school after the pandemic and was feeling uneasy about eating the cafeteria, she invited him to eat in her office without hesitation. That made all the difference for him in feeling comfortable with being back around so many people again. All the while, she gently encouraged him to take small steps towards normalcy as he felt ready to do so. Our families will forever be grateful to Mrs. Culver for loving our kids and meeting them where they are at.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

I think it is important for people who haven't had the pleasure of meeting Cristen Culver to know that everything she does is for the kids each and every single day. She treats her job as an AP as an act of service and this is how she makes the world a better place each day.

Thank you for all you do, Cristen Culver!

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Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.