Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

My passion for teaching started early and has grown into a 29-year journey of inspiring students through language, culture, and creativity. I strive to create a classroom where every student feels seen, valued, and excited to learn—because empowered students become tomorrow’s global citizens.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Watching students in a Francophone country communicating for the first time is so very touching. However, the most memorable moments happen long after students leave my classroom. When former students share that they’re using French in international careers or building relationships across cultures, I’m reminded that language opens doors—and that our classroom helped them walk through them.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My love language as a teacher is giving. If I win, I’ll invest in technology, educational, and visual arts materials to bring creativity and culture to life in my language classroom and support colleagues. I’ll also create a scholarship for students to study abroad or pursue languages, and use remaining funds to travel to Senegal with fellow French teachers to deepen my knowledge of the francophone world.