Alexa Keiser

Tell us why you became a teacher

Most teachers have one teacher they can look back on and say that is who inspired them to become a teacher. But I didn’t have just one, I had several. One teacher who pushed me to be the best writer I could be, another teacher who gave me courage to finally raise my hand in class. One teacher who read us stories standing on top of her desk, and another teacher who told me that I was born to teach. Today, I am all of these teachers in one. Every day is an opportunity to be “the one” for someone.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I keep a folder of little keepsakes and art pieces that students give me throughout the years, but inside is one memory I hang up on my wall every year. It is a colored pencil drawing created by a student who had just moved to us from Vietnam. She spoke no English, and was terrified on her first day. So I asked her to draw a picture of her home, and she drew a beautiful lake during sunset. It is the definition of peace. I put her drawing up each year as a reminder of her peace and hard work.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use it to help pay off my college loan debts- not exciting, I know, but the truth. I went back to get my graduate degree a few years ago which set me back a bit in my debt count, so I would use this money to help pay off the education that helped get me to where I am today.