Kim Atkins

Tell us why you became a teacher

Teaching is my way of being an impact on the future. I cannot change the world, but I can change my students' view on how they can change their worlds.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I can honestly say that my most memorable experience happens repeatedly. We call it the "Ah-ha" moment. Every year I look forward to teaching a new group of students the thrill of discovering their physical world through their favorite science experiments or that moment when their eyes light up and they discover that they can read a whole short book without any help. It is the everyday thrill of that sparkle in some child's eye because they understood and their world makes more sense now.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would spread that gift as far as I could to touch as many lives as possible. I would keep a little to pay off a bill. My family loves to give. I would allow each of my children to pick a project for $5,000 that would benefit others.