Growing up, school was my safe place and escape from the uncertainty at home. I looked forward to each class and hung on the interactions with my teachers (even though I wasn’t always able to achieve the academic success I found later in life). They saw me. They saw my potential, despite the trauma/undiagnosed ADHD, and they encouraged me to always do my best. Today, I teach so every kid who walks through my door KNOWS they matter and are seen for whoever they are… and that they can do math!

My 9th year of teaching took an unexpected turn when my student Julia died. Navigating my own grief while helping her friends/peers do the same was more than difficult. See, Julia was no ordinary kid. She was bold, kind, stubborn, wise beyond her years, and she taught me so much in our short time together. Her legacy continues to play a role in my teaching practices, and the lasting relationships I have formed through her death are ones I hold so dear. May we all live like Julia did and be bold!

$25,000 would go a long way towards helping me achieve my goal of pursuing my doctorate. I spent years paying back loans for my undergrad and Master’s programs, and I’ve put off this pursuit mostly due to the debt I’d acquire. I’m ready to take my own learning to the next level, so the majority of this sum would go towards my tuition. I would also use a portion of this prize money to donate to Julia’s Scholarship Fund since she has so heavily impacted my life and career.