Danielle Cottone

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I love seeing the spark in a child eyes when they figure something out. I worked in a daycare in college and fell in love with teaching the littlest ones the basics. Seeing the excitement and joy when something *clicks* and all of a sudden, they can do something new made my heart soar. I went back to school after graduation from college to become a certified special education teacher and the rest is history.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

On my first day of teaching, I was told I’d be running the social-emotional self-contained room by myself. No paras, no aides. Just me and 9 teenagers alone on an island all day. I was scared, but I believed I could make a difference. At the end of the year, we were like a family, with many kids graduating out of our program. I fell in love with the chaos.

What would you do with the $25,000?

A teacher’s salary only goes so far. I would invest some of the money to help pay off my staggering student loan debt from undergrad and two masters degrees. From the remaining, I would invest in making my classroom more inviting for student who use my room as a refuge, and then help my husband put a much-needed new roof on our house, as he’s been carrying the bulk of our financial burden for years. The man is a the most supportive person and deserves a break, too.