Tell us why you became a teacher

From a young age, I loved pretending to teach. I would spend hours teaching a class of imaginary students. I helped my teachers correct papers, and they would give me extra copies of worksheets to use with my "class." As I got older, I loved working with kids and spend a lot of time babysitting both formally and informally (as the oldest child at a gathering). I always wanted to work with kids, and I also had some great teachers who inspired me along the way.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I don't I have a most memorable experience directly related to TEACHING, but I have many memorable experiences connected directly to my STUDENTS. From 1st graders sitting with me on a bus ride home from a field trip and falling asleep cuddled on my lap to former students (in 8th grade) joining my activity to sit with me just to chat and many moments in between, I love getting to know my students. I believe that we have a lot of fun and laughter in my classes- in addition to learning.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would like to start a scholarship for students to use toward college, trade school, to start a business, or set out into the workforce. Often, scholarships are only given to students pursuing further education, but there are many kinds of jobs in the world. Not all jobs need a degree, and I would want anyone to be able to apply for a scholarship to jumpstart their life in the "real world." It would also be wonderful to use the money for a fun experience or vacation with my husband and son!