Tell us why you became a teacher

My dad and mom were teachers. They taught me the love of learning and I wanted to that for my students. It is a lifelong journey.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

After visiting a concentration camp in Germany early in my career, I promised to teach students, through literature, contributing to the success of humanity and the failure of humanity is a seed we all hold. To see my students recognize this is something that is so important to me. We are each others’s keepers in this life.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I am retiring this after 44 years. I have worked every year, coaching, teaching, summer school education- I would take my children, three of the four that are teachers too, on a trip to share time and see the sights through their eyes. It would be pure joy! I also would save some money do I could feel better financially about my retirement.