Tell us why you became a teacher

I knew from a young age that I wanted a career that would improve my community. I first thought that would be as a prosecutor and went to law school after college; however, I truly found my purpose as an educator. It brings me so much joy to see students attain knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. Giving my students a sense of agency in the world around them is my goal as an educator.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

In 2015, I had a student in AP Macroeconomics who struggled with the content. This student needed active, visual examples of the models. Through tutoring, I was able to develop several representations of the concepts that I still use today. High school students tend to respond best to food, so a lot of my examples revolve around breakfast tacos like diminishing marginal utility. This student was able to be successful in class, also earning a spot on a college track team.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I have four young children ages ranging from 10 to 3 and I would use the money to go towards their college funds and future career plans.