Tell us why you became a teacher

As a student I was bored with going to most of my classes as we were to sit down and listen to the teacher or do a worksheet. But along the way I found amazing teachers that sparked my interest in various subject matter. I wanted to bring that amazing style to as many kids as possible and I now I succeed most days! I want them to grasp the world through touch, sound and play.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I took students from Washington, DC to Montana on a 7th grade trip to experience urban/rural cultural exchange. Being inner city, they had not hiked, swam in a lake, went ranching, farming and fishing. I did this for 12 years taking 10-20 kids each year. One of my students came back to visit the first day of school to tell me she wrote her college essay about me as a teacher believing in her and the trip to Montana and made it in to college!

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won, I would pay off my bills first then take a vacation during the summer to the mountains.