Tell us why you became a teacher

I've always wanted to help people. By becoming a teacher, I wanted to not only help students learn, but to have fun while learning. I didn't want anyone to go through the same experiences I did as a student: scared to ask questions, forced to memorize because I don't understand the material, dreading to go to school. I became a teacher to truly make a difference from the inside out.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

As a second year teacher, I don't have a plethora of memories, but my most memorable teaching experience so far was putting together a Holidays Around the World project. The students were given a holiday or country to research to learn about how they celebrate during that time. After the students researched and created a slide about their holiday/country, I found different foods and drinks that they mentioned in their slides for the class to try after learning about it.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I have a few ideas that I could use the $25,000 for. One option would be to pay a chunk of my student loans. Another option would be to move closer to the school that I work at so I can participate in more community functions. I would also really love to use the money to purchase more flexible seating and tables for my classroom, as well as stock up on more classroom supplies to ensure every student has what they need.