Elizabeth Gioiosa

Tell us why you became a teacher

I had an amazing first grade teacher! Instantly I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. In highschool, they began offering ASL classes. I excelled with the visual language. As an average student, this motivated me. We visited a class of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and something inside me just clicked and I knew that was going to be my exact path.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Many years ago, I had a student with no language. She had a difficult time acquiring the language, auditorily or visually. I really struggled trying to figure out what was going to work with her. One day there was a spider crawling near me and I had a very authentic and dramatic reaction. This immediately drew her attention. When she looked confused, I signed, "bug." And she repeated it after me. From that point on, she finally understood that words had meaning. It was her "Helen Keller" moment.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Over the years, I've had so many students. I really do give a lot to my students and sometimes it takes my time away from my own children. I am a teacher, but I am a mother first. I have 2 children of my own who are so understanding of my time with my students and teaching. I would use the $25,000 for them. I would buy experiences and invest in their future. Maybe one day, they will be teachers too and understand more of why I do what I do!