Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

The people that kept me excited to come back to school everyday were my favorite teachers. The teachers that took the time to know me, know my family, and understand the best way to help me learn have had impacts on me that changed the trajectory of my life. I wasn’t always sure I wanted to be a teacher, but I knew that I wanted to have an impact on other people the way they had an impact on me.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

When I was a student teacher, my co-teacher and I arranged for the students to make a giant art piece. Each student could make experiment with mark making wherever they wanted on the piece. The entire piece is made of scribbles and doodles and only one word at the very center that a student chose to write, which is “Love.” That art piece made by my students spoke to me in a way nothing has before. My coteacher surprised me by gifting it to me, and it’s hung in my classroom now.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay off my student loans, donate to art organizations and museums, and put the rest towards buying a home.