Tell us why you became a teacher

One of the reasons I became a teacher is because of how much I struggled as a student. College was challenging because I had to relearn everything I had not learned in elementary, middle and high school. Working hard in college to get my degree, as an adult, inspired me to want to help children understand at a younger age and not be afraid to ask questions. Becoming a teacher meant I was capable of learning and continue to learn every day from my students and my peer’s even after 18 years.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Yikes, just one?! The most memorable teaching experiences are the ones when you make a difference. The Mother’s Day card I received from my most challenging student, thanking me for always being there for him or the student who thanked me for teaching him long division because I made it so much easier for him to understand, a parent grateful for a conference, watching kids problem solve together or simply a class that said “thank you.”

What would you do with the $25,000?

Pay bills/student loans of course so I don’t have to work three side jobs, lol. Put a small amount in my savings account, share some of it with my mother and kids, purchase a few programs for the classroom and definitely some exploratory kits. Take my teammates out to dinner. Go explore Kennedy Space Center with my own kids.