Tell us why you became a teacher

I had a degree in biology and a minor in theater. I didn’t know really what I wanted to do, but I thought teaching biology would be a good career given how passionate I was and am about biology. My state came out with an accelerated certification program to be new teachers in urban schools. I applied, was accepted, matched with a school, and 26 years later I’m still there and constantly implementing ways to grow my practice and reach more students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There really isn’t one that I can pinpoint as my most memorable, but my most meaningful experience as a teacher is having the privilege of teaching with former students who have gone on to become teachers and have come back to their Alma mater. Currently, there are 8 teachers at my school who were once my students. It’s so rewarding to see how dedicated they are to the profession and their students as I believe I am.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would set aside a portion for savings (most likely to go to home improvements in the future). I would use a portion to travel to Madagascar to experience the fragility of the ecosystem and wonder of the island’s endemic species.