Excelsior Springs, Mo. — After 15 years shaping young minds in mathematics at Excelsior Springs High School, Jennifer Harding has been named a contender for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award.
The LifeChanger of the Year award, sponsored by National Life Group, honors exceptional K–12 educators and school staff each year. Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, shared with their schools or districts. Nominations can be submitted by anyone—students, parents, or colleagues—and are reviewed by a committee of past winners and education leaders.
Harding learned of her nomination via email, initially dismissing it as “just another message”—until she saw the thoughtful write‑up on the LifeChanger website and began receiving heartfelt comments from students, parents, and colleagues on social media. “I don’t know that it even matters to me if I actually win,” she said. “It was just really neat to be nominated and to hear from people that thought I was changing their lives or had changed their lives.”
From Struggle to Calling
Harding’s devotion to mathematics and teaching had an unexpected origin story; she was inspired by a teacher who didn’t make math click for her. She struggled with the well-known rigidity of math class and felt learning could be more fun. As she continued through middle school and high school, she found teachers who mentored and inspired her, and her passion for math grew exponentially.
This experience brought her clarity and propelled her to college with an important goal: to become the teacher she once needed and to help students understand the concepts she once struggled with.
Harding began her career at Excelsior Springs High School in 2011, approaching 15 years of experience with the district. She teaches a range of math classes, most of which fall between pre-algebra and advanced algebra courses.
Harding attributes some of her success to a great team of thinkers in the math department. They stay in frequent communication and create lessons that keep students moving and talking through peer-to-peer feedback activities. “You see helpers and leaders emerge naturally,” Harding said, saying this active model keeps phones down and brains engaged.
By reflecting on past lessons, greeting students by name, offering a “clean slate” every day, and adapting her approach to each student’s strengths and challenges, she shared that this creates a relaxed and responsive classroom, where students can feel seen and take more risks. Her teaching philosophy has evolved since her first year, and much of this change was inspired by the significant people in her life.
Eight years ago, Harding faced the loss of her twin brother, who also dedicated his life to being an educator. This changed her perspective on teaching and life. At his funeral, she witnessed over 1,500 students and colleagues gather to honor his impact; she recalls thinking, “If this same thing happened to me…would I have 1,500 students on a day like that?”
This realization carried into the next school year, where Harding said things were different, and her mission to impact her students was more meaningful than ever.
Harding takes pride in what she does and works hard to connect with every student; she also sees the bigger picture of creating kind and resilient people. This mentality was inspired by her late brother, whose mission to do so profoundly influenced her. She tattooed “Be Tough” in her brother’s handwriting to continue his mission, and balanced it with tattooing “Be Kind” in her handwriting.
Outside of grading assignments and busy halls, Harding enjoys time with her two children and husband, taking care of her humble chicken flock, and reading. She stays busy with a kindergartener and fifth grader, and is very excited to bring her children to the Excelsior Springs School District starting in the next academic year!
Awards in the Everyday
For Harding, the LifeChanger nomination is not about winning—it’s an affirmation of the unseen moments when teachers sow seeds of confidence, resilience, and kindness. She reflected, “Being a teacher is really hard…teachers pour a lot of themselves into our jobs and our kids. This kind of recognition shows that people see the difference you’re trying to make.”
Harding dreams that decades from now, former students might gather around tables, sharing stories of the teacher who challenged them on algebra yet reminded them daily of their worth.
“If they don’t remember any of the math I teach, I guess I could live with that, but I do want them to remember the life lesson of being kind.”
If you’d like to read more about Mrs. Harding’s anonymous nomination, please visit her profile on the nominees list for National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year award.
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
