I became a teacher to help close the gap in our special populations. I grew up in a low income neighborhood which is where I teach now, and I remember seeing a kid who would come in with no shoes. Later, I found out he has Autism and his parents couldn’t afford his therapies and buying him new shoes. So for me specifically, working with students in a low income community who aoso have Autism Spectrum Disorder is something I am passionate about. I believe that all students deserve equality.

My most memorable teaching experience is a student I met my first year as a special education teacher. This particular student has Autism Spectrum Disorder, PTSD, anxiety and depression. Coming in I had no idea how I could possibly build a relationship with this student let alone teach them. They often told me they hated me and wanted to harm me. Collaborating with mental health, I was able to form a strong bond with this student. They met all of their IEP goals and moved on to middle school.

With the $25,000, I would buy all the school supplies I need for my students in The Autism Program (TAP) to support their accommodations. I would buy them materials that would help scaffold the curriculum so that they can also have equal access to their education and an equal opportunity to learn what their neurotypical peers are learning. I would also fund a field trip to the zoo for the kindergarteners in TAP to motivate them to communicate and use of their alternate communication.