Chelsea Porter

Tell us why you became a teacher

I have always had strong relationships with children. I started babysitting at the age of 12 and found that passion for helping children explore the big world. In college, I became more interested in child development and psychology and decided to explore education as a career. I spent two years student teaching and realized that this is what I was meant to do, it felt natural. 17 years later, I now own my own micro Montessori school and have taught my own children as well as a large community.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Working in the New Orleans public school system shaped me as the teacher that I am today. I would say my fondest memories are working in an inclusive Montessori classroom with children of differing abilities and watching them achieve what many said they could not in the course of a three year cycle in my classroom. Knowing that my guidance helped children defeat challenges, physical or learning, and overcome a statistic is my most memorable teaching experiences.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use it to pay off some of my personal debts that have been acquired opening a school, use some of it for materials and for staff training , and put some in savings since I have not been able to have a real retirement plan now that I am self employed.