Quarter-Finalist

Tori Lee Scoles

As a BIPOC woman teaching theatre I am in a unique position to broaden awareness for students/teachers. It is my joy to foster empathy.

Currently 3

in the Quarter-Finals
LIMITED-TIME: 2X VOTES

Help me become America's Favorite Teacher, win $25,000, a trip to Hawaii, and appear in Reader's Digest!

Voting for Semi-Finalists ends Thursday the 17th of April at 7PM PDT

One outstanding teacher will win $25,000, a feature in Reader's Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a school assembly with Bill Nye!

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Tell us why you became a teacher

I have always loved working with children, I enjoyed seeing the world through their eyes and opening them to new possibilities. I also co-founded a theatre company in my home town. I always loved theatre and the arts and there was nothing like that in my home town, when I was asked to take over the high school theatre possession it was a dream come true. I became a teacher to give opportunity I didn't have to young people and lead them on roads they never dreamed to create empathy in the world.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience has been taking students to different theatre conferences. To be with them when they see they are not alone in the world and that there are others like them. To have them see other people as passionate and curious about theatre, makeup, costuming, tech, all that the educational theatre experience has to offer them. The first time telling my sister about this she said,"Think where you would've been if you had this in your life?" It is a gift I get every day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay off debts for me and my husband so we could afford to buy a house nearer were we work. Right now I drive round trip anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours to get to work. Teaching theatre there are a lot of late nights and early mornings. I want to be able to be here for my students in a way I am limited of right now. That would be my dream and my goal to make me a more present and better teacher.

Planetary Society Planetary Society

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