Ashley Ferguson

I was in high school and had to be homeschooled. The teachers saved my life and never gave up on me. I wanted to be that person. I want to teach them they're strong, smart and can be anything. Teaching special ed is something most people don't want to do, but I love it. These are kids that many have given up on and I refuse, I won't. They desperately just need someone to listen to them, believe in them and love them. I'm teaching them to be independent learners. I'll always believe in them.

One of my favorite moments teaching was with a little girl. She refused to take her meds in the mornings. I wasn't a big fan of meds for kids, but she really struggled with making it through the day without it. One day she ate her entire pantihose. I began bringing in a smartie every morning and would make a big deal about my princess pill. She desperately wanted to be a princess. I told her she had one too and we could take it together, it worked! She is now 20 and a mother & doing great!

If I won I would buy a van for the school so my class could take more field trips. I'd like to take them to places like a grocery store, banks, restaurants, laundry mats and places in nature. So many of my kids have never seen a beach, never been to the movies and it breaks my heart. If anyone in this world deserves to see the world, it's my students. I also do a big Christmas, last year I received over $2000 from donations. It's a big deal, if there's money left over it'll be used for that.