Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I love to learn- and I know it is not easy. I thought if I could make students love learning in someway they could spark a love within themselves to find a passion. One of my greatest "loves" is connecting with people- I get to do that daily by teaching Italian. I get the privilege to share culture, language, history, art and music every day. I became a teacher so I could give back to a school/learning community who gave me so much as a student!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have memorable teaching experiences everyday. Every day that I get to connect with students on a real, human level is a memorable experience. I love doing the Wordle in Italian every day- it sparks joy and language learning. I love traveling with students- seeing them see the world fills my soul. I love when students become teachers themselves! THESE are the most memorable moments- from the daily moments of learning to the BIG events that change the trajectory of our lives!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use a portion of the funds to set up a scholarship fund for students to connect to the world! I have the most amazing kids but often financial strain prohibits them from participating. We offer a virtual exchange with WorldLangAmerica, an Italian exchange program in Fano and study abroad in Sicily. These programs change lives and foster life-long learning but they are not assessible for all! Studying a language builds compassionate world ambassadors and global citizens! Andiamo!