Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

Growing up I had teachers that stimulated my eagerness to learn. Originally, I thought of becoming a teacher for the hearing impaired. I was inspired by Helen Keller. I later decided to become a teacher through her inspiration. This lead me to begin learning ASL. I always strived to help others by giving back to my community. I was also blessed to have many quality teachers as mentors. They provided me with a solid example of how to be a great teacher.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One memory that I recall was during the first two years of my career. I had a student in the 5th and 6th grade who was rough around the edges. He later blossomed and became a diamond. His mother and I are still in contact today. He was one of the smartest students I have ever taught. This student has graduated from several universities, plus knows several languages. To this day, he reminds me that he gave me tremendous grief, but I was the teacher that helped him the most.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest half of the money back into my school, helping wherever the need might be. Our school struggles to meet the needs of all students and this would be my way of giving back for providing me with an opportunity to do what I love. The other half I would invest in myself to further my education. I have always wanted to go back and complete my masters degree. This would provide me with that opportunity.