Shannon Addison

Tell us why you became a teacher

I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a teacher at first. I decided to go back to school and get my teaching degree 13 years after graduating with a business degree. I started out as an instructional aid while going to school and loved it. This is my 11th year and I’ve realized that I have a part in shaping all of our futures by setting my students up for success at school. I only hope that they will carry what they learn from me with them to make our communities better.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

While teaching middle school PE, I taught mostly girls and encouraged all of them to go out for the track or cross country teams the following year. So the next school year, I ran into a couple of these girls I had taught. They had track uniforms on. And I asked them if they were on the track team. They said “Yes we are!” And I said “That’s awesome!” Then I asked them “What made you decide to try out?” The girls said “You said we should try out.” I had no idea I had made that impact.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay some bills & go on vacation.