Tell us why you became a teacher

I have wanted to be a teacher my whole life. The earliest memory I have of wanting to be a teacher was in 4th grade when I taught my class about reflection and refraction. As I got older I had a plethora of great teachers that also inspired me to want to teach as well. Conversely, I had teachers that were mean and discouraging, so much so, I thought I wasn’t meant to be a teacher. It’s a mix of all teachers that have prompted me to want to be the best teacher, so my students can be GREAT!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching moment was seeing my students grow last year. I teach 4th grade reading, and last year’s 4th grade cohort was severely impacted by covid. This caused many students to not be able to read and even write, but seeing how hard they tried and worked really inspired me to work harder. They grew so much from the beginning of the year to the end I was shocked. Sometimes as a teacher you don’t know if what you’re doing matters and seeing them grow made it all worth it!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would stock up on books for my class library. I am currently at a school that has shut down their library, so I want my children to have access to books that are diverse and on grade level for them. With whatever is left I would pay off my student loans.