Tell us why you became a teacher

My second grade teacher, Mrs. Bertha Baker, from Bath, North Carolina was my constant encourager and mentor. My senior year in High School she asked me to be her teacher cadet. I was honored and loved working with every student she entrusted to me. The children were so excited when I chose them for phonics groups. I used American Sign Language to show them how the hand shape looked very similar to the written grapheme. They loved showing me they remembered the letter by remembering the ASL sign

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My first year in the classroom I had a male student diagnosed with autism. I was not sure how to differentiate with him but I used all I was taught. He had to be retained but I saw growth in his Artwork. The next year I would have him draw his answers. He would verbalize as much as he could. Then draw to explain. He was a gift from God who taught me in those 2 years how to help children with limitations to still have great success!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I began Operation Santa Soldiers Stockings in 2011 to make sure no VETERAN would be forgotten at Christmas while defending our country. Our Veterans will be blessed with part of this blessing if I am considered. We sent to Kuwait, USS Enterprise while serving. Gifts recently in the past several years have gone to the Salem, Virginia Veterans Hospital. My students sing in the lobby carols while gifting Veterans.