Samantha Gurley

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to give the experiences to my students that I wish I had as a kid. As an out and proud LGBTQ educator, I believe that it is my job to teach my students love and acceptance as well as science. I want to be the consistent adult in their lives that cheers them on at their football games, applauds their straight As, and tells them that I’m proud of you and I love you, every single day. Being a teacher to me is the one job where I could have at least a small impact on so many lives

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a student my first year teaching, a known trouble maker, take a liking to me. He would be very real with me and tell me why he was misbehaving or why he made certain choices. I worked with him and his family to get him on the right track. I think he needed someone to truly listen to him. After his parent was incarcerated, he came to me for life advice and we got him set up on a football team, new clothes, and a study schedule. Now he’s thriving in high school!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Become a mom. As a teacher and a women in a same sex marriage, I’m unable to have kids the traditional way. My wife and I have been saving for years to be able to go through IVF and have a family of our own but the funds have never been there. I’d finally be able to become a mom and raise a child the way I want to.