Donna Westrich

Tell us why you became a teacher

Everything I have ever done, has led to teaching. I moved to Colorado for one ski season, started as a bus driver, and moved seamlessly into the roll of driver instructor. I babysat my friend’s teenage son, and my friend told me that her son loved the way I explained things to him, and she encouraged me to teach. I’ve taught everything from CCD lessons when I was in high school, to swim lessons, to adult fitness classes, and students ranging from 4th - 12th grade. I love teaching the children.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most poignant teaching experience occurred when I was teaching 8th grade science at Mount Logan Middle School. As a science teacher, all of the ESE students who were usually sequestered to a small group instruction room, were “pushed in” to my class. In the lesson on physical and chemical changes, I let my students burn marshmallows. As one of my low level students watched her marshmallow burn, she looked at me, pointed at her marshmallow and said, “Chemical change!” Formative experience.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would love to improve public education in Florida. I know $25,000 isn’t enough to fix the infrastructure, the crowded classrooms, or the exhausting schedule put on teachers due to the budget shortfall, but I’m ready to try. I’d like to make public schools in Florida a great choice for students. I want teachers to be supported and respected. I’d like to have enough supplies to let students complete hands-on projects daily. Students learn best when they feel safe and when they have fun.