Carrie Shanahan
I have the opportunity to make a child's day better, help them feel special, and give them a safe space to be themselves. I teach PE.
I have the opportunity to make a child's day better, help them feel special, and give them a safe space to be themselves. I teach PE.
Thank you for supporting Carrie Shanahan in this year's competition. Your donations and participation will benefit The Planetary Society in their mission to advance space exploration, inspire discovery, and empower the next generation of innovators.
Being a Physical Education teacher allows me to to build lasting relationships with students and families as I have them for 5 years. I'm promoting lifelong healthy habits and witness the joy of them overcoming physical challenges. I get to make a daily, tangible impact on their social, emotional and physical well-being in a fun, active environment of traditional classroom pressures. I also teach health to the students using Quaver Health curriculum. My former students come back and volunteer.
Tell us about your most memorable teaching experienceHaving a job that allows me the opportunity to have the same students for 5 years is unique. I run a program called Mile Club with tokens and small prizes and have for over 17 years. A quiet shy student of mine really seemed to get into walking or running our gravel track and collecting tokens. As the years went by her confidence grew on and off the track. Years later she came back to school with her old tokens and said she was on the track team in college.
What would you do with the $25,000?My school lost its playground this fall. It was deemed unsafe and we had it removed. It was the only handicapped access playground in our town and it served the whole community. Playgrounds help develop balance, gross motor skills, social emotional skills and inclusion. Our children have gone all year without a playground and staff and parents are fundraising this year to replace with a fully ADA playground. We have a great design for a Clipper Ship but we need the funds.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like America's Favorite Teacher, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
Learn More
