Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I have a passion for knowledge. Not only do I enjoy learning, I also enjoy passing that knowledge onto others. In every aspect of my life this comes through. My nickname on a sports team is "Teach" because I explain and break down concepts or moves on the baseball field just as I do for concepts taught in my class. It is a central aspect of who I am. I have always enjoyed learning and I wanted to bring that passion to others, teaching allows me to do that.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have several fond memories from teaching but they all center around one concept: connections. It is the connections I make on a personal level that I take with me each day and reflect on when I have a tough day in the classroom. This year, a new freshman saw me outside my classroom and ran up to me to give me a hug because I was her teacher when she was a 5th grader. She told me that she was so excited to see me because my encouragement helped her persevere through middle school.

What would you do with the $25,000?

The first thing I would do would be to buy supplies for my classroom. I keep art supplies, pencils, cardstock, and extra school supplies in my class for any student who needs them. I would be able to do this and expand on it with $25,000. I would also like to use the money to encourage civic engagement, to help fund a club after school such as mock trial or We the People. I would also use some of the money to help pay for my children's college expenses as college is expensive!