Harmony Tuxward

Tell us why you became a teacher

I wanted to make a positive impact on the lives of children with disabilities by helping them learn and grow, finding immense reward in witnessing their progress and seeing them achieve goals that might have seemed difficult, all while advocating for their needs and supporting their development in a meaningful way. Letting the world know we need to focus on what they CAN do instead of what they can't do.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

When I was a TAM teacher, I had a 3rd grade student who didn't speak much and could barely read. The could read 9 high frequency words. After some time together, he began to talk, even became safety patrol for the school. By the end of the year he was able to read over 300 different words.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Vacation with my family-they are my biggest supports. They know how important my job is to me. Then I would move on to my classroom. I need classroom furniture, classroom library and manipulatives. Not to mention classroom supplies that meet the needs of my students. I would be able to pay for inclusion field trips (can be expensive) that accommodate students with disabilities while not burdening parents with field trip fee.