Joe Cernak

Tell us why you became a teacher

After college, I started out as a sales representative. It was a decent starter job, and I made a good amount of money, but I was not fulfilled personally. I wanted to have a career where I could positively affect other people. My mother-in-law, who was an elementary school teacher, would always share stories of her experiences at school. It quickly became clear that I wanted to do what she did and work with children.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

After 20 years of teaching, I have an immense collection of incredible memories. One that immediately comes to mind happened during a project in which students had to memorize a speech and deliver it to a room full of parents. One particular girl happened to freeze up when it was her time to speak. She walked off the stage and I helped her calm down, reminding her that she was really prepared and amazing at the performance. She returned to stage and brought the house down!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I have two teenaged children who are both looking at their future after high school. While I am excited to help them to invest in their future through a college education, I know how expensive that can be. This prize money would help me and my children reduce the need for student loans and help them with achieving their personal goals.