Susan Gottschalk

Tell us why you became a teacher

All I ever wanted to be was a teacher. I became a teacher because I wanted to be that teacher that inspires students to reach for the stars no matter their socioeconomic background. I love being a teacher that students grow to trust and know that I believe in them even when they don’t believe in their self. I love being that teacher that students come back to visit and share their successes after graduation. I love that I have become that teacher that puts relationships before rigor.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is when a minority student I taught science in 7th and 8th grade earned a full ride to Yale. He called me within minutes of finding out and thanked me for inspiring him to never give up. We cried happy tears together on that phone call. That experience of sharing my students joy make all the very hard days so worth it!!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

1. Pay off the remainder of my student loan debt 2. Donte money to my schools Agriculture Science Program in order to provide funds for high school students to travel to national leadership conferences. 3. Donate to my favorite dog rescue TRU. They saved my 2 dogs and they am forever grateful to them for helping homeless and abused animals.