Windsor Mill Teacher Up For Life Changer of the Year Award

From BCPS: Anuradha Bajpai, a Grade 6 science teacher at Windsor Mill Middle School, has been nominated for the 2018-2019 national LifeChanger of the Year Award.

Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, the national LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards the 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.

Public comments about the nominees are taken into consideration by the selection committee. In addition, the nominee whose community shows the most support is eligible to receive a LifeChanger Spirit Award. Information about how to show support – by posting comments on the LifeChanger website or social media – is available via the LifeChanger website.

In the nomination video, Bajpai is described as someone who “would go to the ends of the earth, literally, to educate her students,” and someone who is determined “to bring the world to her classroom and show her students that science is everywhere.” The video describes that the school’s annual STEM Fair, with her leadership, has evolved into an Annual STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) Night over the past 10 years. Last year’s event included 20 business partners, 200 parent attendees, and 90 students displaying their projects.

Bajpai, a Pikesville resident, traveled to South Africa as one of NEA’s 2018 Global Learning Fellows; journeyed to Indonesia to participate in a field experiences sponsored by IREX; attended the Summer STEM Academy at the U. S. Naval Academy; and trekked to the Arctic Circle to work with scientists at the Toolik Research Center in Alaska.

Windsor Mill Middle School Principal Harvey Chambers wrote, “Ms. Bajpai is the epitome of what it is to be a great teacher. She is relentless in holding students to a high standard, and they respond accordingly. I am always amazed at her ability to serve as an ambassador for teachers throughout her world travels. She is truly a teacher to be reckoned with.”

Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For 2018-2019, there will be a total of 17 individual LifeChanger of the Year awards including a National Grand Prize Winner and four Grand Prize Finalists.

Each winner will receive a cash award that is split between the individual winner and his/her 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 a national awards ceremony in Hawaii. Winners will be announced in spring 2019.

Image via BCPS