Christina Berkheiser

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to make a difference. Also my younger sister, 10 years younger, struggled in school and had to transfer to a special school. This was an additional driving force. I wanted to help those children with learning differences and help parents navigate through the process of getting their children the help they so needed.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a student struggling day after day and I would sit with him 1:1 or in a small group while we awaited testing timelines to get him extra support in a smaller setting. One day after we had finished his rough copy of his 3-4 sentences for a narrative, which others were writing 9-10 sentences on their own he proudly held up his paper. Beaming from ear to ear while looking at his paper he said wow look at this I did all this I filled a whole sheet of paper. My heart melted!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would take my parents with me to Hawaii since they are 83 and 84 and time is precious. I would help with additional money for my sons for college. My youngest is working at Fed Ex 4 am until class to get scholarship money, then goes to class full time, goes to football practice, does homework and then goes to bed and starts over. He’s studying to be a cop. My other son who is working full time as a paramedic and going to school full time to be a nurse. I would buy a classroom rug, flex seating