Amanda Penrod

Tell us why you became a teacher

I've wanted to be a teacher since I was a little kid. I used to play school while at my grandma's house. I used to make worksheets for myself and have my grandma grade them. I loved going to school; For me, it was a place to be curious, creative, and push myself try new things. I admired my teachers both in real life and on TV programs like Magic School Bus, Bill Nye the Sci Guy, Arthur, and Boy Meets World. I strive to be that kind of teacher for my students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

It's hard to pick one experience. For me, the best moments are a feeling of accomplishment instead of an event. The best teaching advice I ever received was "instead of planning a lesson, plan an experience." I try to follow that advice every day. I think students learn faster and retain information longer when they have past experiences to draw from. When former students tell me about something they remember from my class, I feel renewed. Those moments keep me going when the days get tough.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would like to take my family to New Zealand which has been on our bucket list for a couple of decades. We love the sweeping landscapes that New Zealand has to offer and would love to them for ourselves. As fantasy nerds, we'd especially like to see the filming locations from Lord of the Rings. I'd also like to add a few improvements to our home. Our home is our happy place. We dream of adding a pergola to the backyard and a home library.