Tell us why you became a teacher

Before I understood "purpose," I felt a drive to help, learn, and find meaning. In school, I found meaning in writing and literature, organizing my thoughts creatively. In high school, I formed a band and expressed emotions through relatable songs. Throughout my education, teachers helped me grow, sparking a desire to guide others toward their potential, just as they helped me realize mine.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

COVID-19 disrupted classrooms worldwide, including my high school. In Fall 2020, over half our students opted for virtual learning. As both an Honors English 10 teacher and yearbook advisor, documenting the year was a unique challenge. My team revamped the table of contents, chronicling events weekly. Despite disruptions, we produced one of our most memorable yearbooks, earning a feature in Walsworth’s Possibilities book the following year.

What would you do with the $25,000?

For my students and classroom I would buy subscriptions to different kinds of design and image software for my publications classes. We would get a lot of use out of Adobe Stock, Lightroom and several other independent design software. I would buy new camera equipment, schedule fun an interesting field trips. I would build our publications program in such a way that BHS would be known state-wide for our program. Honestly, I'd also probably buy myself a guitar.