Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because a Kindergarten teacher named Mrs. Mullins let me read to her students. Dr. Patricia Simeon was a math teacher who believed in me. My counselor, Mrs. Beck, sent me to peer leadership training. My college professor, Dr Carolynn Rester, taught me in unforgettable ways about interpersonal communication. I want my words and love of them to change lives of the kids I teach the way these women changed me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There are many truly memorable moments, but this years is with an autistic student. He’s a Senior and hates writing. He often refuses to do more than the bare minimum. Suddenly, this year he has begun using picture over a voice track of the movie “Shrek”. He was assigned to compare a text to text literary analysis essay. I could not get him to write, but instead he expressed the TEKS in photos comparing five other movies, characters, and theme in photos! I was blown away! He understood!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay medical bills and I have never had a new car. Used cars are what I could afford. I would get a family car.