Ted Freeman

Tell us why you became a teacher

Both my parents were teachers, so in many ways it was the air I breathed from childhood. I was lucky to have impactful teachers at every step of my life who nurtured my curiosity about the world and saw my potential for growth. As I became older, I realized that I wanted to be a part of that legacy of teaching. I discovered that the best way to honor the teachers who had supported me was to continue their work with a new generation of students.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Teachers are often caught up in the daily challenges: managing the classroom, grading papers, writing emails. The most gratifying moments of my career have been seeing how my teaching has impacted my students long after they have left my classroom. One of my former students pursued a PhD in discipline I teach and now teaches at a university. Not long ago, I invited him to speak to my current students about his path. It was joyful for me to see him continuing a legacy of teaching.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My wife and I have always put a high premium on our own children’s education. As we have two teenagers who we hope will soon be going to college, we are reckoning with the reality of that expense. Unfortunately, cost plays a significant role in what doors are open, and what doors are not in the college process. My hope would be that this money could potentially keep some of those doors open for my kids.