Vanessa Sween

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because my first and second grade teacher had such a great impact and made me see the love of teaching. I teach so that my students have someone they can trust and have a relationship with also someone they could be vulnerable and try new thingswhen not everything seems so easy. I also love to teach for the little moments when they work so hard to understand something and they finally get it! I love being a community member that is able to create relationship with each child.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching moment was when one of my students was nominated for an achieve greatness award in our school district. And she was somebody in my first year of teaching who had a great impact on my life and motivated me to learn new ways to teach and Then a few years later, she came back and told me she wanted to be a teacher one day.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Being an educator and not always having the resources I would be able to pay off medical bills and put money away for my daughter’s future education as well