Tell us why you became a teacher

Growing up, the person who had the biggest impact on my life was a high school teacher. She noticed me, encouraged me and made sure that I applied for college. I knew that I needed to do the same! I wanted to inspire youth and make sure, regardless of the home struggles, that ANYTHING was achievable!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Being a kindergarten teacher was my calling and my passion. However, I didn’t expect to be presented with a challenge in which I worked with a non-verbal child. We communicated by other means and worked together as a team. His confidence grew and his yearning for knowledge continued to grow! He’s a high school senior now, planning for his future!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I had $25,000, I would continue my education and enhance my classroom skills. Continuous growth and improvement based on the newest research, will help me reach every student. In addition, I will use a portion of the money to treat my family to a vacation. They have been my biggest supporters since the beginning! They have given me the confidence and excitement to fulfill my life-long passion: Changing the world, one child at a time!