Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because of the impact great teachers had on my life as a student and because of the influence of members of my family who are educators. As a student, teachers who went above and beyond to educate students in their classrooms were inspiring to me to be able to do the same for my future students. As a child, admiring the strong and intelligent women in my family who are educators helped me have a desire to pursue this career.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Within my teaching and coaching experience, there have been many memorable moments. However, the most memorable by far has been receiving designation as a TIA teacher. While teaching my 7th period English I class, my superintendent and admin team entered my classroom to surprise me with this award. The most touching part was how excited my students were for me. It's so exciting as a teacher to see the success of my students, as well as the positive relationships built within the classroom!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’m on a mission to give my Title 1 students the 'gold standard' classroom they deserve! In a smaller charter school, we have many needs to give our students the best education. With $25,000, I’ll be able to purchase a computer cart to provide my students with 1-1 computers. I’ll also be able to fill my library shelves with more books, upgrade my classroom to better serve my kids, and stock up on all the supplies needed for the hands-on, 'fun' projects that make school a place they love to be!