Tell us why you became a teacher

I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I was younger I would play school with my sister and “teach” her. When I was in school I struggled with it. I had a teacher that basically told my mom I would be a dropout. When I got to Middle School I was diagnosed with a Learning Disability and that made all the difference. I want to show kids like me that they can do anything they put their minds to. I was a peer helper to an autistic student in 4th grade and it felt like the right fit for me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There are too many to choose from. I have one student who always ate with his hands. I got him to eat with a spoon for the first time. Another is, I had a kindergarten student who was nonverbal. After working with him the mom came in for parent teacher conferences excited he had asked for cereal. Another one is one of my students who has violent behaviors. He clasped his hands together and shook them rather than hit. Watching my students graduate after all their hard work.

What would you do with the $25,000?

There are a couple things I would do with the money. The first is there is a therapeutic horse farm I would love to get my students involved in. The second is there is a communication device I think would benefit a few of my students so I would like to get a classroom one to teach on. Then I would help develop a sensory room for our school district. If any left it would go towards college funds for my kids.