I was drawn to become a teacher because it allows me to harness my creativity in a way that positively impacts my students. My approach to curriculum is to blend student interests with my own, which leads to increased classroom attention, retention, and stronger relationships. I believe that there is nothing better than witnessing students get excited about our own passions and creative interests—and even more so, watching them learn through it.

I feel grateful to have created so many memorable experiences over the course of my teaching journey. As a recent career highlight, I facilitated a successful application process to acquire an Artemis 1 Moon Tree through NASA’s Office of STEM for our school. Not only is it exciting to have a tree that began its life in orbit around the moon planted right on our school grounds, but the learning opportunities created by this sapling are endless.

In addition to the high honor of being named “America’s Favorite Teacher,” a title that I strive for with my students every day, the $25,000 reward would go a long way for my family. My husband and I both have advanced degrees that came with some expensive student loans. We also have a goal for our five-year-old son to visit all fifty states before turning 18. Receiving an award like this would create some stability and help us to provide exciting learning opportunities for our son.