Sheryl Alexander

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because it was a teacher that changed the trajectory of my life path when I was an eighth-grade student. It was at that time that I knew that I wanted to have the same impact on another student's life. My coach didn't just teach me how to be an exceptional athlete, he taught me how to be a team player, not only on the court, but also in real life. He taught me not to have a fear of failing, but to learn from that failing. THIS made me passionate about teaching!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience happened over a period of years with a group of girls that I had as 7th and 8th graders. These girls challenged me on every level! The were smart and ambitious, but everyone of them said they would never be a teacher! As the years progressed, and they moved from high school to college, many of these girls chose teaching as their career path, and stated they chose teaching because of me. Some of them are teaching in the school from which they graduated.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won the $25,000, I would pay tithes to my church, spend some on my grand children, and put the rest in the bank.