Destiny Brown

Tell us why you became a teacher

I originally wanted to be a teacher to teach music. However, I became discouraged before stepping into the classroom and switched to Anthropology to study music and culture. After my degree, I worked numerous jobs, but was unhappy. I came back to teaching because I always saw myself teaching. I discovered I loved it because I loved teaching my passion for culture and history. I also loved it because I felt like I was fulfilling a lifelong purpose to impart knowledge & empathy for the future.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Honestly, my most memorable teaching experience is one I've been doing for two years in a row. At the end of each school year, I show a movie based on something we've learned about. I always show my students The Devil's Arithmetic because it's not violent, but it truly shows the horror the Jewish people face during the Holocaust. My students at the end of the movie are always moved by it and understand the weight of history and our role in preventing it from happening again.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I had $25,000, I would give that money back to my school. We have a program at my school named GROW (Girls Realizing Our Worth). It is for empowering young women to be leaders in their community as well as giving them tools for success. Our GROW sponsor, she does an amazing job putting together workshops for these young girls like field trips, self defense classes, and domestic violence awareness. I would want to give back to this so that we can do more for these young women!