Tell us why you became a teacher

My late mother and two siblings were teachers. It was obvious that teaching accommodated their need for purpose and a feeling of success. Within weeks of my first teaching stint, I was hooked on the same feeling.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

We set-up a sustainable garden near the playground. It was wonderful to watch even some of the unruly students working the soil and asking very salient questions. Later, while grading a test on Earth Science issues and the climate, I could see that the garden experience had enhanced the book learning. When a parent walked up to me in a local restaurant, she thanked me for inspiring her son to help in their own garden.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay-off my mortgage and take a well-earned cruise!