Nikki

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I’ve always wanted to be one. I found I loved teaching science- it’s hands on, it’s discovery, it’s fascinating. I try to bring my party planning skills to my classroom to engage all of my students. I have stuffed planets my 10th graders adore. I use chemistry flash cards and Mole $ with my 10th graders. All to keep them engaged and learning.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I taught middle school earth and space. I took a group of low income kids to Luray Caverns about 5 hours away. We got on a tour bus, rented movies, each group a disposable camera (before cell phones) to take specific pictures for an explorer journal and the rest they kept. They loved it. Years later a bus boy came up to me and asked was I Mrs Benil. He had been waiting years to thank me. He won his family a free cruise on a game show remembering how I taught stalagmites and stalactites! Wow!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Pay off some bills of course. Help with my children’s college bills (I have an 18 year old who graduated with her associates degree a week before her high school diploma. She is a junior in college now and wants to be a lawyer). And take the family back to Sweden to visit with our “Swedish family” (I was a surrogate for a couple I didn’t know 13 years ago but now we are family).