Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I worked several jobs where my work at yhe end of the day was not fulfilling. I thought about things that made me feel appreciated. Those things were Scouting and working with youth, teaching them skills and information that they would find helpful.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

After I became a special ed math teacher, one of my classes was full of students who had many challenges. Through the course of the year, I created a community in this class. They would challenge and help each other succeed. When I would assess their learning, they would encourage each other to be quiet and respectful so that everyone could show what they learned. Two of the students in that class visited me after graduation to share that they were now thriving in college math.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would like to support my school's competitive programs in science and technology by helping stay current with innovations.