Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher after realizing that so many children are underserved in my community. Students so often get passed along or ignored in education. They get pushed year to year and lose important skills. I became a teacher because I wanted to be able to work with all students who needed the extra help, so matter their grade or ability. Teaching is about helping kids become happy and healthy adults. What skills do they need to do that? I try and focus on those critical thinking skills.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have too many to count. I've sat with students after fights, after parents or friends have died, I have helped them learn how to hold a pencil. Teaching is full of hundreds of tiny moments every day, each one could be insignificant to me. For a child, that moment could make a difference you never knew. Teaching is unlike any job, there's no way to choose one.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My students deserve project based learning, and I deserve a new comfortable pair of shoes! I would use the money to invest in create projects that pertain to each unit. My goal would be fun, hands on projects each unit. For example, I would love for my students to have the materials to build a scale model of the Great Wall of China, as well as Roman aqueducts. I would also make sure the other history teach was able to do the same!