Jillian Bruch

Tell us why you became a teacher

I've dreamt of being a teacher since I was a little girl. My favorite activity was playing school, and my role obviously was being the teacher. I didn't really know what I wanted to teach though until my high school experience. I had some amazing teachers who made me love the idea of being a high school teacher, especially in Spanish. So I started my pursuit toward being a Spanish teacher, but my story took me another direction entirely, and I have been loving and teaching MATH for near 20 years

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience happened recently. I was visited by a former student who just so happens to be a successful NFL player (Jahan Dotson from the Eagles). That day was one of those few times where I got to witness the positive influence my teaching had on their life. He chose to come say hello because I made an impact on his life all those years ago. It meant the world to me for him to take the time to visit me.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My plan for the $25,000 has parts. I have a club that I am an advisor to called Cru, short for Campus Crusade for Christ, who I would like to give at least $9,000 to for a summer mission trip. Another $1,000 would be used for a college scholarship available just for Cru students. The remaining $10,000 would be used for needed classroom upgrades, like a new set of desks that are more conducive to learning than what I have now. I'd also upgrade to a Smart TV as my teaching platform to offer more.