Tell us why you became a teacher

I fell in love with working with students while serving with AmeriCorps. Working with diverse populations and grade levels opened my own thinking. I love working alongside students as they develop their own meaning and understanding and am blessed with being able to do that every day.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Random birds and geckos showing up to my classroom door, brought by both students and staff! I love bringing science into the classroom, and our many trips to a local outdoor education center and taking students on canoe trips are memorable moments that I cherish.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My husband, recently retired from the military, and I would be able to invest some of the money into a forever home now that we are able to spend time together and build our future. A portion of the money would also go into a fund that I would use for my classroom and with my leadership students as they develop and participate in acts of service within our local community.