Tell us why you became a teacher

I was mentored by great teachers and wanted to provide the same mentorship to my students. I enjoy engaging and empowering students to be the best version of themselves.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had ovarian cancer when I was a second year teacher and I recall coming back from my leave of absence and feeling really anxious about it. My students were so kind to me as I returned to work and made the back half of that school year easier for me by making me laugh and allowing me the time to heal. They were just the medicine I needed to feel better mentally after such a difficult experience.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use some of the money to support a local scholarship for my school that is given in memory of my cousin, Matt, who passed away while in HS. His scholarship is given every year to students interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields, an area Matt wanted to pursue.