Tell us why you became a teacher

I chose to become a teacher because I know what it feels like to struggle in school. Not every student walks into a classroom confident. Not every child has someone advocating for them. I am a teacher to be that person. For the ones who doubt themselves.For the ones who learn differently. For the ones who just need someone to see their potential. I never want a child to feel unseen, unheard, or unsupported. Every student deserves someone who believes in them and I’m honored to be that for mine.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There have been so many memorable milestones throughout my teaching career, but one will always stand out above the rest. Watching my very first class of Pre-K students walk across the stage and graduate was a moment I will never forget. I can still picture their tiny faces from that very first day the nervous smiles, the tears, the excitement. To see how much they had grown, not just academically but socially and emotionally, filled my heart in a way that’s hard to put into words.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to establish a dedicated autism support classroom at my school to better serve students with autism and related needs. This space would be intentionally designed to support regulation, communication, life skills, and academic growth in a structured, sensory-friendly environment.