Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I believe education can change the course of a young person’s life. I wanted to create the kind of classroom where students feel seen, challenged, and empowered to use their voices. As a social studies and law educator, I help students connect history, justice, and civic action so they can see themselves not just as learners, but as leaders and advocates for change.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my most memorable teaching experiences was watching my students, like Richard, lead a civic action project that connected classroom learning to real community impact by creating our peer court program. They researched issues, spoke with confidence, and realized their voices mattered. Seeing them move from learning about justice to practicing it reminded me why I teach: to help young people see themselves as powerful, informed changemakers.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest the $25,000 in expanding real-world learning opportunities for my students through my law and public policy academy. It would help fund social justice field experiences, guest speakers, civic action projects, professional attire support, classroom resources, and student leadership opportunities. I would also use part of it to remove barriers so more students can fully participate in transformative, future-shaping experiences.