Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted to help instill a love for learning into my students. I also had some pretty amazing teachers when I was a kid that made learning so fun and meaningful for me. I had great teachers who helped me through some of my saddest moments and cheered me on in some of my greatest, going above and beyond their job description. Those were formative experiences, and I realized that I wanted to make school as fun and safe for other students like those teachers did for me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my first students had a pretty hard, traumatic home life. He had a reputation at school of being “difficult”. I tried to make school a safe space for him, to help him feel a sense of belonging, and to help him see how much he was capable of. Towards the end of the year, he gave me a small box of marbles. He said he wanted me to have his “most favorite thing”. I think he taught me more than I could ever teach him. That year I learned children give everything even when they have nothing.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would donate much of it to our public school for books and other needed supplies and help pay off my student loan debt!