Rosemary Mancari

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because when I was a child I feared school. The anxiety I had everyday to walk in the building was debilitating. At 7 the Dr labeled it school phobia. All but one teacher understood what I was going through and met me where I was at and helped me grow. I became a teacher to be there for children like Mrs. Novak was there for me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is when I had two inner city students in 2nd grade. One of the students father was shot and killed. The social emotional lessons and mindset I taught them created this moment. The boy who lost his dad was sad one day and another boy went and sat with him in the library. They talked for awhile and then came to show me letters they wrote to the boys dad in heaven. My heart was full.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would take half of the money and use it on Autism Research and I would take the other half and apply it to my child's college fund. He is on the spectrum and I'm not sure what the future in education holds for him but I would like to be prepared. We live our life by paying it forward.