Tell us why you became a teacher

History is so full of fascinating, weird, and human stories that make the past so interesting. I love sharing those stories with my students and observe them develop an understanding of how the past affects our very complicated present.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

When I taught middle school I went from 7th to 8th grade & the same students two years in a row. One of the students I had was a challenging student in 7th grade, & when I had him again in 8th grade he matured and grew as a person. One day he called into a radio station & gave me a shoutout saying "Mr. Marcum is the best teacher I ever had." That moment resonated with me because it was such a small, unexpected gesture that gave me a small sense of confirmation that I am making a difference.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My school's floor is coming up and literally falling apart, we also have some ceiling/roof leaking problems, most of that money I would give to either my building or the districts' maintenance budget