Patricia Fleetwood

Tell us why you became a teacher

I always loved to read, and I wanted to share that passion for stories with others, opening new worlds and ideas to them. Helping others express their feelings through writing is important, especially in today’s society where so much gets twisted and attacked. Besides, finding that word that fits your situation perfectly brings pride and fulfillment that is unmatched! I want everyone to feel the joy of a job done well!!!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One year I was teaching Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol to a small group of highly intelligent 7th graders. I decided to discuss his beliefs on people’s actions based on religion to see if they could understand his social commentary in a part of the story that is often left out. After a while of talking, one girl yells out, “I get it! There’s like two layers of meaning here! Are all books like that? This is so cool!” That moment explains why I teach much better than what I wrote above does!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won $25,000, I would take my students in a field trip because that is something that many kids can’t afford to do. I would use the rest, because that clearly would not cost $25,000, to improve our English program by buying a reliable AI tracker program to prevent copying, buying new, modern novels that are more diverse and can give kids choice in their reading, and buying virtual reality goggles so kids can experience Shakespeare’s London, for one.