Carrie Walker

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I followed the eldest daughter to educator pipeline. I quickly realized that it was more challenging than I could have ever imagined, so more importantly, I *stayed a teacher because I value being a student. Every child, curriculum, class, is a lesson. I’m never done learning. I’m energized by facilitating connections for students. My desire to learn keeps me going back for more

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My first year teaching was the 2nd worst year of my life. My husband was on a year long deployment, I had a 2 year old with no family nearby, and I started at the beginning of COVID 2019-2020. I felt I had every reason to give up the entire career. But one close coworker told me “You can’t see how much we need teachers like you” and it was just enough to make me stay. I wish I could have appreciated that small moment for everything it’s gotten me through to the highly effective I am today

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would buy the most luxurious things I can imagine - a little bit of time and peace of mind. This is obviously not a career choice for someone who prioritizes a lavish lifestyle. Teachers struggle immensely, myself included. I would love to say goodbye to student loans! I would rather love to continue to stay a student in a much more free, meaningful way - to always have a learning mindset, which is much easier to do with the peace that comes with eliminating debt. Maslow all the way to the top