Mary Tom Emanuel

Tell us why you became a teacher

My career path of becoming a teacher became evident to me when as a child I experienced extraordinary instructors that inspired me and gave me the wings to want to give back to others. I am blessed to be able to teach children in the same school where I gained my invaluable education. I receive immense joy when I witness the "light bulb" effect when students finally are able to understand the concepts and then apply them to new and novel situations. Finally, simply put I love children!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I would have to say during the years of teaching virtually during covid, feeling completely defeated and unsure about how to navigate through the technology and masks and deliver the same engagement and ensure that students felt love and support from behind a screen. I felt I had to do more, so I drove around to each student's house and brought them a small gift and our class "stuffie" and took photos with them. This meant more to them than anything and they never forgot it.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I spend a great deal of my personal money on my "school children" each year, for holidays and for fun, engaging activities to enrich their understanding, some would be spent to supplement that expense.My husband and I love to travel, to visit new places and just enjoy life together, so some of it would be to support that. Finally, I would save some of it to use to help my own children who are in college.