Tell us why you became a teacher

I can't remember a time when I didn't want to become a teacher. I love children and used to play "school" with my younger brother as mh student. I loved my 3rd grade teacher and wanted to be just like her. She was kind and patient and soft spoken.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I think what I remember most is all of the times that I would read library books with my 1st graders. Just having them on the carpet around me just as mesmerized with the story and characters as I was. As for teaching music, lately it has been watching my students make connections with our "Composer of the Month" musical selection viewing at the beginning of each lesson and our current piece that we are working on.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would split it between our school community's needs and the nonprofit Band Together program that is run by teachers in our county that provides instruments for needy students. Thank you for the opportunity to enter this contest.