Tell us why you became a teacher

Mr. Robert Pleis - my 4th grade teacher. I spent a lot of time in the corner in third grade the prior school year. I had undiagnosed learning differences and school was hard for me. Teachers had a hard time reaching me and seeing my potential. Mr. Pleis would juggle and ride a unicycle in class and I wanted to make other people feel the way he made me feel about learning. He reached me and taught me the word enthusiasm which I still bring to my teaching.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I met a student my first year of teaching 20 years ago and I KNEW she was a natural teacher. She eventually wrote to me to thank me for being her teacher and to tell me that she became a teacher and a principal. She became everything I had hoped for her and I realized how important teachers can be. Especially when they inspire young people to help and inspire other young people.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Help my daughter to pay for college. She has been diagnosed with learning differences. I teach at a school for students with learning differences (like ADHD, Anxiety, and Dyslexia) but could not afford to send her to a private school. I have helped other students but couldn’t always give her all of the support she needed. I would like to open more opportunities for her in ways that a teacher salary just couldn’t allow.