Christi Thebeau

Tell us why you became a teacher

I didn’t follow the typical path into teaching. I was pre-med and planning to become a physical therapist when I became pregnant with my son at 17. That changed my plans. I got married, stayed home, and raised my two kids. When they started school, I became a paraprofessional. Once I stepped into the classroom, I fell in love with teaching. I worked full time, raised my kids, and took night and Saturday classes for 1.5 years to finish my degree. I was hired at the same school and have now been t

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I don’t have one single moment that stands out as the most memorable. In education, memorable moments happen every day. There are the “why did you do that?” moments and the “I’m so proud of you!” moments. Watching students struggle, grow, and finally succeed is what stays with you. Those daily moments—big and small—are what make teaching both challenging and incredibly rewarding.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest in both my future and my children’s. I’m currently going through an unstable relationship and may not always be able to rely on two incomes. My daughter is working to start an insurance agency, and my son hopes to branch out and open his own construction company. Being able to give each of them $5,000 would help them take meaningful steps toward their goals, and the rest would help create stability for the future.