Teaching gives me the opportunity to work for my local community and the educational system that enhances it. My specialized high school supports students designated with Emotional Disturbance, who have been deemed to require a more restrictive learning environment at a separate campus. My reason for becoming an educator was to show these students that they deserve a quality education presented in a way that makes sense to them and supports their academic, as well as social emotional needs.

My “most memorable teaching experience” seems to come on a daily basis. Each day is filled with individual educational triumphs and conquering personal setbacks. Instances of overcoming access-roadblocks leading to academic successes fill my memory… each with their own student face etched into my brain. When I get those calls to the classroom from former students and they tell me about their utilized math skills and budgetary successes after HS, the memories all seem to be my most memorable.

I would fall back on my educator values and allocate the resources based on the courses I teach. I currently administer one Leadership course, one Physical Education course, and three Mathematics courses. This strategy would lead me to a 20/20/60 spilt of the $25,000. The Leadership portion goes to my County run campus. The P.E. portion to getting out and getting exercise on a trip for my family. And the Math portion (based on my financial literacy curriculum) goes into savings for the future.