After the COVID shelter-in-place, I became aware of the growing number of open teaching positions. Having recently moved to a rural area, I realized that many students had lost excellent teachers, and I worried about where their education and support would come from. Although teaching had never been a goal of mine, I quickly decided it was a challenge I was ready to take on. Now, each day when I see students’ faces light up as we learn about the world around us, I know I made the right choice.

My most memorable teaching experience happens each year hosting a 6th-grade mini catapult STEM challenge. Students work in teams to design, build, and improve their catapults while applying Newton’s Laws of Motion. After testing and making adjustments, teams compete within their class, & winners advance to a final competition in the gym with the entire 6th grade watching. Students have an absolute blast cheering each other on while applying their newly discovered knowledge of forces and motion.

If I won $25,000, I would focus on using the money in ways that support education, both for my family and for the students I work with. As a parent and an educator, I believe that investing in learning creates opportunities that can last a lifetime. This amount of money would allow me to make thoughtful choices that support my children’s future while also strengthening the educational experiences I help provide in my classroom.