Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I recognized a need for kids to have a person that could uplift them along their journeys. I have been blessed throughout my life to have a few teachers who have made a huge impact on me, and I know what one person can do to shape a life. I have the ability to touch and shape countless hearts and minds that come through my classroom - not only to love learning, but also to be beautiful, well-rounded individuals that can help make the world a more welcoming place.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I will never forget my first year teaching, in which I had a student who could not read any words, or even differentiate between letters or numbers. I spent countless hours practicing reading and phonics skills with him, and he gradually started to progress. A year later, I was observing a class in which he was a student. I sat next to him and tears filled my eyes as he read paragraphs of text to me. All of our hard work together had paid off, and he was now reading at grade level!

What would you do with the $25,000?

As a secondary teacher, I am witnessing first hand that there is a tremendous need to address student confidence in academic performance alongside mental health/anxiety issues. I would like to develop a pilot reading program that would help to combat both of these issues. Studies show that getting students involved in literature is the best way to improve emotional capacity (and academic language, which would simultaneously boost student confidence in their ability to perform scholastically).