Kylie Rutherford

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a history teacher because my history teachers in high school did not provide me with a proper social studies education. They taught straight from a textbook and my government teacher was a known conservative and only taught that side. I decided that I wanted to make sure the future was properly educated and they were taught all sides of government. It is important that we stay non-partisan as teachers. Students deserve to form their own opinions about the world and express them.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable experience is when I took a group of students to Washington, DC to the United States Holocaust Museum. We had spent weeks preparing and I believed it would be impactful for students to see the real impact of the event. I could tell it was a truly memorable experience for students because they were taking their time as they went through the museum and we spent five hours there. As a class, we had packed lunches and ate them on the National Mall and talked about the experience.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 for a down payment on a house. It is really hard to afford one on a public school teacher salary and housing prices are always increasing while my salary value is always diminishing. I also have student loans so my extra income is always going towards those, making it impossible to save for a house. I am getting married this summer and it would mean the world if my fiancé and I could start our lives in a home of our own.