Emily May Hunihan

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I believe little moments matter. I love watching the lightbulb go on when a child blends sounds for the first time or finally believes, “I can do this.” I became a teacher because I care about who my students are becoming, not just what they are learning. I want my classroom to be a place where every child feels seen, capable, and safe to grow. I became a teacher because shaping hearts and minds feels like meaningful work and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience wasn’t a big award or a perfectly executed lesson.It was a quiet moment with a student who had been struggling. The one who avoided reading, who shut down during centers, who didn’t believe they were “capable.” One day, during phonics, they blended a word on their own. I watched the pause, the processing, and then the spark. “I read that.” They said it before I could. In that moment, I didn’t just see growth in a skill, I saw a shift in identity.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000, I’d breathe. I’d pay down my student loans, put a chunk toward land for our future home, and start a savings cushion as we plan for a baby. Recently married, building a life together feels real now and that money would help us step into our next chapter with less stress and more freedom.