Joseph Schlueter

Tell us why you became a teacher

I took an aptitude/career test in high school and one career field I scored high in was education. I began looking into schools that had excellent teacher education programs. As I imagined myself as a teacher in front of a class, I realized exactly which qualities of a teacher that I wished to emulate. In fact, most of those excellent qualities had been demonstrated to me by current and former teachers I had been privileged to have had. I feel it is my responsibility to pay it forward.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

In my biology class each year, I show a documentary on the discovery of the structure of DNA. One of the storylines in this discovery was Rosalind Franklin and how difficult it could be for women in academic fields at that time. The documentary ends with mentioning the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago. One year after showing this documentary, I had an inspired female student tell me that she planned to apply to the University and study genetics.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would donate a portion to my science department. I would really like a digital microscope with a screen that allows the students to see what I am seeing. I would take my family on a vacation, because between coaching and teaching it is difficult to travel at inexpensive times. I would also treat my mother-in-law to something nice. She is a kindergarten teacher and also a wonderful person. I feel like she should actually be America's Favorite Teacher.