Tell us why you became a teacher

I knew I wanted to become a special education teacher when I was 13. I babysat for a neighbor with Down Syndrome and he ignited a spark in me that’s been glowing for 34 years.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Jacob and Andrew. Jacob has Fragile X syndrome and Andrew’s behaviors can be, for lack of a better word, challenging. They are in one of my middle school classes together. Despite how Andrew is feeling on any given day, he lovingly waits for Jacob before leaving class to ensure he gets to their shared PE class. There is so much good in every single child.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I am a single Mom with two teenage daughters, a mortgage, car payment, overdue bills and student loans. My retirement was taken from me unknowingly about 9 years ago. At that time, I’d been teaching for 16 years and was on the path to retire at 60. I don’t see retirement in my future any longer and I’m ok with that because I love teaching so much. So maybe I could start from square one and perhaps retire someday.