I became a teacher because of the incredible educators I had growing up, especially my second grade teacher, Mrs. Rinckel. She shared her passions, built strong relationships with her students, and inspired a lifelong love of learning in me. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to teach. I love working with young learners because these years are so impactful. My goal is to spark curiosity, create joyful hands-on learning, build confidence, and help students grow into kind, and capable citizens!

One of my most memorable teaching moments happened during my first year. I focus on teaching the whole child and building a classroom community that encourages kindness and positive self-talk. During partner work, one student made a mistake and their partner responded, “That’s okay, let’s learn from it! That’s what Miss Bertrand always says.” In that moment, I realized my students had truly internalized those messages and were lifting each other up.

With $25,000, I would expand my classroom library with nonfiction and culturally relevant books so every student feels seen and inspired. I would invest in classroom materials to strengthen math and literacy through play-based learning, and provide recess equipment for our school community. I would also use a portion to pay off student loans, easing financial stress so I can stay focused on my students.