Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

My older sister is a teacher. I never wanted to be a teacher. However, there was something about her lifestyle that seemed enticing. I'd like to consider myself a natural born storyteller and London, always had a new one to tell; some about students, some about staff. She asked me if I wanted a job at her school as a para and basketball coach. I witnessed players realize their ability to do "hard things" translate from a gym to a book. Now, I'm the AP Bio Teacher. Always in the lab.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

It was when my worst enemy became my best friend. Tawon Tribble was brilliant in every way. Unfortunately, he's equally mischievous. Your last nerve was his dance floor until I learned how to switch the flow. We saw TT raise his math grade from a D to a B+. I met a 12 year old at school every day at 5:30a to hoop, just in case he was able to raise them in time. He was.. a lot, but through effort, became my best friend. He was killed last year due to gun violence. Thirteen, and never got to play.

What would you do with the $25,000?

"It's just a game." Probably the most infuriating sentence ever stated. I have built my life on this game. They can too, with the right school. So I am going to plant it. ProCreate Academy is a rigorous academic institution that offers elite core content instruction paired with holistic options to the athletically passionate. Everyone can't be a pro athlete, no matter how good you are. But the ball doesn't ever have to stop bouncing. Basketball alone makes >45B dollars globally, annually.