Tell us why you became a teacher

I always knew I wanted to do something with kids. I always babysat and I was the oldest of 4 siblings. I ended up becoming a foster care case manager first but once I had my own children, it became a little too close to home. I went back to school and became a teacher. I wanted to be the person that was there to help kids learn but to also love them.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching moment was when a little girl who had a rough home life and some behavioral concerns, started taking off academically! She started reading and writing! She came to me one day and said “thank you Mrs. Kenney for teaching me to read and write! I love school now and I can read at home in room by myself” That meant she had found her safe space!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay off some educational debt of mine and then completely redo my classroom. I would get new flexible seating options, better desks, more hands on activities and resources, and I would get more SEL resources!! I would also get some needed essentials for students to take home. I work in a title 1 school where some of my students don’t have the essentials they need to be successful!