Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I chose to become an educator through my employer because as a student who had trouble in typical learning environments, I wanted to create an environment that I would want to learn in. Through this lense I teach kids in a way that is entertaining to them and they dont realize they are learning. I find ways to connect with each one of them and use a passion of animals and nature to connect them to a world that may otherwise never known to exist.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Ive helped dozens of people get over their fear of animals, but recently I was presenting various invertebrates and an entire party of kids were afraid of the tarantulas. After some careful explaining of how fragile and sensitive they were, I took one of my biggest ones around for them to see and look at up close. I explained that being fearful of something we dont understand doesn’t mean we have to hate that thing, by the end the majority of the party said the tarantula was their favorite part!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Well, the responsible part of me says to save/invest, make some home improvements and finish projects as well as put money aside for my kids…but the irresponsible side wants to put some aside for an eventual honeymoon with my fiancé to go to Disney and Universal so we can spend a week or so in the parks being giant kids.