Tell us why you became a teacher

I was not a teacher; I had a job in public relations. There were pregnant teenage girls who were trying to get their GEDs at the non-profit I worked for. One day, as I was walking down the stairs, I heard one girl crying because she didn’t know how to write. So, I went up the stairs and asked her if she wanted help. I taught her how to write a paper. I kept going back to help other girls. This was the beginning of my teaching career.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable moment was when one of my students raised his hand and asked me if my husband was the kind of man who would consider fostering a child. I asked him why he wanted to know, and he said, 'Because I want you to be my mom.'"

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would buy a chair lift for my elderly parents.