Tell us why you became a teacher

My journey to becoming a teacher began with anxiety, not ambition. Every night and every morning brought stomach aches, tears and a desperate desire to stay home. School felt intimidating rather than exciting. That all changed in fourth grade. I had a teacher who completely transformed school for me. He created a safe, structured classroom, where I finally felt confident, supported and comfortable. From that year forward, I knew teaching was the career for me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was realizing the impact I made on a specific student. Throughout the year, each day felt normal. Simply working to build a relationship and doing whatever it took for him to feel supported in my classroom. I didn’t fully understand how much each of those every day moments meant to him until the last week of school, when his mom told me he had been coming home crying because he didn’t want to leave my classroom for the summer and the following school year.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000 I would invest in both my future and my students. As I complete my master’s degree and graduate in May, paying down my student loans would provide a financial stability as I continue growing in my profession. I would also build a classroom of my dreams, enhancing resources, materials, and experiences for my students and support fellow colleagues at the Title I school where I teach with items and supplies that help meet the diverse needs of all of our students.