Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I’ve always loved working with kids. I started off coaching volleyball while in college. Then, I moved into direct therapy in ABA with kids who are on the autism spectrum. That led me to teaching special needs students in public school and now on Outschool. I love being able to support and uplift my kids and know I’m preparing them for their future independence. The special needs community is underserved and overlooked; I’m so proud to be a part of it and use this platform for us.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a student who would engage in extremely aggressive and dangerous behavior when he was upset due to a lack of verbal communication skills. He and I worked on identifying and understanding emotions and what zone they belong to for months. One day, he grabbed his emotions zone card and he pointed to tell me he was upset before attempting to aggress at me because of another student screaming. He was able to stand on his own. A small step for most, a huge win for him.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Our class pet, Irra the boa, needs a bigger enclosure. So, that, along with some plants and enrichment items for her, would be first on the list. I would also invest in more materials and online tools to help me with the range of classes I teach on Outschool, including: art, creative writing, animals, social skills, independent life skills, pragmatic language, and reading. This money would also provide a security and independence for me and my little family that would be incredibly humbling.