Deb Lo Presti

Tell us why you became a teacher

I guess it’s in my blood. My mom, sister and aunt are all teachers. I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was little. I remember making the old school attendance cards on index cards and keeping track of my classmates attendance every day! I still love the planning and seeing lightbulbs go off after a lesson.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Believe it or not my most memorable teaching experience didn’t happen in the classroom. It happened while working at an energy company’s visitor center. We were planning exhibits for the center and my boss turned to me and asked what I thought the best way to teach people using the exhibits. I must have looked confused because he said to me, well YOU are the education expert here. It was the first and probably only time I was regarded as an expert in this profession!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the money to create a high school science curriculum at a reading level appropriate for students who have difficulty reading current textbooks, especially student like mine at a Title 1 school. It would include reading passages suitable for practicing and promoting reading skills, led by content relevant questions to encourage critical thinking skills with lots of charts, diagrams and graphic organizers. The star of this curriculum would be hands on activities!