Antonio Villarreal

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to be the guide that helps kids navigate that tough material. Science is a subject that is not easy for everybody and I want to make it where kids can understand it where everybody can understand. I had so many great teachers from when I was young to my high school teachers to my college professors, but I wanted to emulate that and I still strive to do it today even 18 years into it.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

The most memorable thing I ever did about teaching was taking my kids to a science competition. We went and competed in the national Ocean sciences bowl, and it was memorable to me because when I was in high school, I competed at my own regional competition and to see and to be able to be the coach for that team and have them win awards and really love the ocean and I love ocean science like I did that moment and those years when I did that were the most rewarding years of my teaching career

What would you do with the $25,000?

Being a teacher is tough and my wife and I are both teachers and we have accumulated in debt so I would try to pay some debt off and fix up my house. That amount of money would allow us to do that and it would be more comfortable, so that’s what I would do with the money make it in my future years with my wife and kids would be more manageable.