Martin Perez

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted to give back to children that looked like me. Little brown boys and girls can often get overlooked in academia. Coming from a house with a father immigrant, he instilled in me the importance of education. I wanted to bring back that same excitement and enthusiasm towards learning. I believe that school should be a safe place for all to learn, feel safe, and be the best possible version of themselves.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was when I had a student paint me a painting and give it to me on the last day of school. She painted a picture of a plant that said, “thank you for helping me grow this year”. I immediately framed it and hung it up in my apartment. To know I had an impact like that on a student, makes it all worth it at the end of the day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

First of all, I would love to be able to give back to my school community. Whether that be new school shirts, new books, or curriculum licenses. Next, I would definitely love to give back to my parents. They have sacrificed so much for me and I would love to give back to them. Lastly, I would use some money to pay for my current masters program. I’m going back to school to be in administration.