Tell us why you became a teacher

I grew up on a farm in Miami, Florida. As astonishing as that sounds! As soon as I was able to hold a pencil I was playing make believe classroom with my sisters or my toys. Years passed and one August I walked into my kindergarten classroom. Seeing a dream actually be in my grasp as I walked to my name tag on my very own desk I knew the feeling I was born with was it. I have always felt you can be born with your purpose, your destiny. I wanted to make a difference in many schools and systems.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I do not have a most memorable experience. I have a special moment that happens many times and each time is meaningful. It is the way as a teacher we find multiple teaching strategies for the same concept to help all students understand within seconds. It’s the look on their face as they smile with understanding and drop their shoulders in relief and comfort.

What would you do with the $25,000?

This will help me build more classroom transformations, more materials for hands on teaching and continue building our beautiful classroom library. I will continue my masters with a bit of relief as I learn new methods and not feel burdened to pay courses. It will help me save towards my first home for my children.