Olivia Jacobi

Tell us why you became a teacher

I was inspired by a friend I had growing up who had Autism. He showed me that people with disabilities are often underestimated and deserve for people to believe in them the same way that we believe in all other kids. My passion for working with children with disabilities continued to grow, as well as my interest in finding new ways to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to access their full potential as learners, workers, and people.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I've spent 3 years with my kids creating an environment where they know that I think highly enough of them that I expect them to follow my instructions immediately. At the beginning of my 3rd year I told my class to line up for recess, prepared to have to prompt each on individually again. As I started to, I noticed them all get up from their desk and go to the door. When I saw my class in a straight line, waiting for me to take them out for recess, I felt like a better teacher than I ever have.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would have a private bathroom installed for our special education Life Skills classes. At the elementary level, we work on potty training and other hygiene skills every single day. We do not have our own bathroom, so our students have to go into the general bathrooms and aren't given the basic right to privacy while learning skills such as getting dressed and going to the bathroom.