Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted to make a difference in children’s lives. I love learning and reading, and I wanted to share that joy with others. Teaching allows me to support students as they grow, especially when learning feels challenging or uncomfortable. I believe every child deserves to feel seen, capable, and valued, and I wanted meaningful work that helps shape confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was when I planned a field trip and one of the chaperones was a student from my first class ever; he was a student of mine for three years and was quite challenging to say the least. He was now a step parent of a student in my class. It filled my heart with pride, knowing that even though his journey was a little more challenging than others, he is doing fine. I realized that as much as he never left my heart, I never left his.

What would you do with the $25,000?

$25k would be life changing for us. My husband had a heart attack 2 years ago and is also a Type 1 diabetic. He is unable to work full time, as he is still ill, and I’m struggling to pay bills and raise our 4 children on my salary. I fell behind so I’d use the money to catch up and put the rest in a savings account so we can afford fuel oil and furnace repairs for next winter. We may go out to dinner as a family; something we haven’t done since 2018.