Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because it has always been my passion. As a child, I spent hours playing “school,” cherishing every moment and even collecting real teacher materials whenever I could. Now, working with children never feels like work—I love seeing their faces light up with pride when they master a new skill. It’s a joy to be part of their learning journey!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I focus a lot on social and emotional skills. I find that these skills are most important to learn since they are used for your whole life. One child struggled with his peer interactions. Throughout the year, I gave him many tools to be able to form successful relationships with his peers, and by the end of the year he was able to play with other students in a successful manner with little support from a me.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The first thing I would do is purchase a few items off of my wish list for my classroom! Then, I would save the rest in a college fund for my own two children. I want them to be able to continue their higher level education without having to use as many loans as their father and I did. I want to give them a good head start!