Tell us why you became a teacher

Teaching allows me to plant seeds I may never see fully grow. Every lesson is a small investment in some child's dream. Every question asked is a sign of courage and every mistake is a step towards mastery. I teach to guide students on the path to chase their dreams by not only teaching content- but also confidence, character, and endless possibilities. I want to students to always know they are valued and believed in.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

A moment I will never forget in my teaching career is when a student came to me and said, "Thank you for believing in me". This moment in time outweighed all the bad and overload the career can bring. Knowing that I had made a positive change in my student's educational career truly warmed my heart. I promised to myself I will always be the teacher to believe in every student, even the ones who may not believe in themselves yet.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use some to supply basic needs for my students. I teach at a Title 1 school, and unfortunately many students are without. I would love to be able to supply them with the supplies they need to be able to be content especially in weeks/breaks where they do not have access to school resources. I would also use money to supply my classroom with new materials we need such as STEM activities to spark engagement and motivation. I would also use some money to put towards savings for a home.