Dee Zamora

Tell us why you became a teacher

I wanted to become a teacher because I wanted the things I did at work to matter to me at the end of the day. I wanted a career that would allow me to help young people learn how to help themselves, while providing financial stability for my family and myself. Watching a student acquire a new skill with independence is one of my greatest and most profound joys, even if no one else ever really knows about it.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I've been a special education teacher for 17 years now, and I recently had one of the formal observations by my principal that is part of the review process in my district. During this observation, every student was locked into the lesson and instruction for the entire duration, which is not the norm. My staff commented afterwards that it was because that is the environment that we have built; the expectation and belief is that everyone is capable of some level of understanding and learning.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would finish off paying my student loans, and take the money that had been spent towards my student loan repayment and divide it each month into my children's college accounts.