Susan LaBarbera

Tell us why you became a teacher

Three main influences inspired me to pursue this wacky and wonderful world of teaching. The first is kids, they are so much fun to work with. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a student succeed. Next is my lifelong passion for art, in grade school, I ALWAYS worked on the illustration portion of any assignment first, and finally my high school art teacher Mrs. Spahr. She created a safe environment and the art room became my haven when I was bullied.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have had many memorable teaching experiences throughout my 32-year journey as a public school educator. Some highlights include being named "Teacher of the Year" for program development in Art Therapy for kids by my colleagues. There was also the unforgettable moment when my skirt fell off while drawing on the board during student teaching. Finally, organizing artwork pickup during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic with administrators and parents.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’ve recently purchased my very first home! It is a fixer-upper, and I have dreams of transforming the basement into an art studio and family space. Looking forward to the future and retirement.