Tell us why you became a teacher

I decided to become a teacher after working at my local summer camp the months before starting college. Working with kids, and forging connections with families and the community as a whole provided me with a sense of purpose that I had never felt before. My love of history combined with the desire to lead and inspire students prompted me to pursue a career as a social studies teacher.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

This is tough. There have been many, from coaching students in track and field and cross country after school watching student athletes learn a new skill that develops into a passion to facilitating classroom debates and seminars watching students take the lead on their education through research and discussion. However, my favorite experience every year is the first day of school, when the classroom is the neatest it will be all year and nerves quickly turn into excitement!

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the $25,000, I would invest in further resources, trainings and development to further my dedication to providing my students with the best education possible. This year, I started a school podcast. I would like to use this money to grow and expand this program and continue to look for other ways to extend my students school day by proving them with more options and opportunities for after school programs. Specifically, the creation of a podcast lab