Abby Whitt

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I want all students to feel loved and capable of being who they are meant to be. The reason I want this is because I have experienced the impact of this as a student from a teacher who believed this herself. My fifth grade teacher helped me though a challenging time and pushed me to be the best version of myself. This motivated me to always do my best in whatever I do and to feel my confident in who I am. This in turn made me want to make an impact on my students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is when one of my students was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This reminded me as a teacher that I teach to the WHOLE child and not just the academic part of them. This also helped me see how a school community comes together to love and support students in need.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the $25,000 I would treat my mom to a once in a lifetime experience as her retirement gift. My mom means the world to me and has shown me what hard work is. I would not be the person I am today without her and would love to give her a thank you gift with this money.