Tell us why you became a teacher

I decided to become a teacher in high school. I worked as an assistant in a preschool room and there my passion for children grew. I am bilingual and view my ability to speak Spanish as a superpower and am proud to be able to communicate to my students as well. I have worked in my district for 5 years now.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

During my student teaching, I was teaching whole group when I asked my class a question. One student who primarily speaks Spanish raised her hand and wanted to answer but froze as she didn’t know what to say in English. I told her she could answer in Spanish, and her eyes lit up as she answered the question. It was at the moment I was proud to be bilingual but also help my students feel comfortable to speak up in class. My goal is to create a welcoming classroom for all my students.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the money to pay for my student loans. Anything left over would be set aside to purchase my first home for my daughter, currently 7 months old, and myself. It would be a big step forward if I were to win teacher of the year for my career and the money.