Tell us why you became a teacher

When I was in the fifth grade, I had a teacher that influenced me tremendously. Her enthusiasm, creative lessons and dedication inspired me, even at such a young age. In the yearbook that year I even put that I wanted to be a teacher, and that was 1995. I struggled with math that year. This particular teacher went out of her way to help me and never made me feel ashamed that I needed the extra assistance. She had such an impact on me, and I knew that I wanted to do the same for others.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

During my interview at South Amboy Elementary, I spoke about the importance of SEL. After explaining how I teach children the importance of this topic, the district chose to utilize the very same program, school wide (PreK-5) that I spoke about. I was asked to be the professional development leader and model teacher. I shared experiences with staff members in PreK-first grade. Being able to teach my coworkers was empowering, especially knowing that they will pass this on to their classes.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My husband and I have been trying to save for a down payment on a house. I would use the money to put towards that, in hopes that we can achieve the long-time goal of a house of our own.