Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to help change the future. I wanted to inspire children to be all that they can dream of being, despite circumstance and the world around us. I want them to see that light inside themselves and believe in their value, ability, and self-worth. I wanted to help them see that learning is beyond the classroom and how each thing we learn will be something important.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable experience was teaching my own son third grade math. It was a new level of excitement seeing it through his eyes and he grasped new concepts and shared his excitement with his peers and friends.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would get some new rugs for my classroom and pay off debts.