Andrea Shearn

Tell us why you became a teacher

At 16, I spent every summer weekday from 8-5 watching four siblings, 8, 7, 4, and 3 years old. It was probably due to my age, but the parents had an unusual, and challenging rule. The children and I must remain inside at all times for safety. I obviously wasn't going to let them watch television all day, and so, I needed to become creative. This was before one could just look up ideas on the computer. I relished the challenge of finding what would work and my love of teaching was born.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I am the teacher of Elementary Gifted Students. I design project and problem-based learning experiences based on each child's strengths. They are given choice in how they handle the task and I coach them to exceed their own expectations. One of my most memorable experiences was when my 4th grade students were working with Scratch to design and code their own video games. I modeled different game designs. One student created a screen with icon links to his version of each and every game type

What would you do with the $25,000?

My job requires a lot of new, and expensive, technology. If I won $25,000, I'd be able to update and replace our robotics, STEM equipment and supplies, and 3D printers. The students would be so excited.