Debby Moriarty

Tell us why you became a teacher

I always wanted to be a teacher. I would volunteer in elementary school to help with special needs children and I enjoyed it. I never thought I was smart enough to get my degree until I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 40 and started medication. I went back to college to get my degree and ending up being on the Dean's and President's list. I can relate with my students. The past 5 years I have been teaching a PreK reverse inclusion (3 year olds) class and I love it.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There are so many working with the littles as they make so much growth, but the ones I remember most are when I was teaching middle school and had a group of boys. I always told them I was proud of how much they tried. Several of the messaged me when in high school and said they were graduating with a regular diploma and it was because I told them I believed in them. That just melted me!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Probably buy more things for my students as we do special activities on holidays. We always get them a book and animal for Christmas, they hatch an egg by staying in their seats at Easter and get a chicken (stuffed), and we go on a leprechaun hunt and they each find one. I also buy lots of snacks and food for the classroom so no child is hungry. If any left over I will probably use for my grandkids as they are living with me now.