Emily Shafer

Tell us why you became a teacher

My mom was a teacher and as I was growing up I saw the difference she made with kids. I always wanted to work with kids and help them grow like she did.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had spent all year trying everything with a particular student to get him interested in something to encourage his learning. By spring conferences his mom approached me and asked what I had been doing because her son was finally excited about coming to school and always came home with something he had learned. This small interaction was so meaningful and appreciated.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would spend part of it paying off my loans from masters degree, some of it would go towards traveling to other countries to learn more things and the rest would probably be spent on my students for materials, books and really cool ways to explore science.