Addison Yanito

Tell us why you became a teacher

I was originally set on a field in the medical industry. As I progressed through my studies I ended up finding more interests in applied mathematics. During this transition I found myself tutoring and taking a part-time substitute position through the DOE. The passion for education grew on me and I found the results of my teaching to be pretty great. After that I decided to pursue education and was quickly gobbled up as a high school math teacher. Ever since then I've loved this profession.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

In my first school I taught mostly geometry. I had an inclusion class and was nervous about teaching. Turns out these students had more personally and grit than my general or honors classes. Sure they would struggle with the geometric concepts, but through teamwork with my paraprofessional, these students were able to succeed beyond many of my general ed students. Every week would go by with students feeling proud of their accomplishments. We never gave up on them and they never gave up on us.

What would you do with the $25,000?

That's a LOT of money for a teacher all at once. I would use it to spruce up my classroom. Purchase a bunch of different materials that can be spread amongst my department. I would also donate a good portion of it towards early childhood development programs since I believe that is most crucial for our future learners. Finally, I would take whatever is left over and invest it for future use. I have a toddler and want to make sure she grows up with the necessary tools to be successful.