Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher, in part, for the same reason as so many others— I had teachers that inspired me and made me believe I could do wonderful things. But just as I had teachers who changed my life for the good, there were others who let me down in significant ways. In addition to loving education and the English language, I strive to be a teacher that treats students with the dignity and respect that all human beings deserve.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a student I connected with significantly during the pandemic. It was a Creative Writing elective over Zoom and they were the only one who regularly showed up. They took a real interest in the craft, and we had beautiful conversations about life and literature. They graduated a few years ago, but we still keep in touch over email.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay off a small amount of personal debt and put some aside for a trip to Europe (I’ve never left the country!), and then I’d split the rest between a donation to my school and savings for my son’s education.