Tell us why you became a teacher

Teaching is not something that I became, it is what I have been called to all of my life. There have been so many teachers that have inspired me in my life, and I want to carry on their legacy in my teaching. If sharing my story of growing up in the inner city can help my students who are currently growing up in the inner city to see that our circumstances don’t define us then I have done my job well. That’s why I became a teacher.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

27 years is a lot of memorable teaching experiences. I teach middle school so I see them in the middle of their education, and not always their best years. What is most memorable for me is when they come back all grown up living their best adult lives and share it with me. It warms my heart to hear them tell me about their dreams and successes.

What would you do with the $25,000?

$25,000 would be very much a blessing in my life. Family is everything to me. I have been blessed with a gigantic family. My husband and I have had a goal to visit every national park by my 63rd birthday (because there are 63 national parks). With $25,000 I would plan a cross-country road trip with my entire family to visit every national park in our beautiful country. While this may not be as extravagant as some, it is at the heart of what I value, and that is family and nature.