Tell us why you became a teacher

I was always that kid catching and examining critters in the surf or in the creek. I loved being able to identify all of them. As an adult, I became a scientist due to my love for nature and my love for living things. I have always felt the urge to protect nature and those organisms that cannot protect themselves. I come from a lower income family, and I knew that I could not reach the masses from where I was. What I can do, is educate people to care, and then they can go on to teach others.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I built up an aquatic science program at my high school. My class was a favorited class to sign up for and become so popular that they eventually had to get two other teachers to help me teach all of the high school students signing up for the class. My most memorable teaching experience was when my own students became teachers. We setup learning stations at a pond on campus and we invited local elementary and JH schools to come out, and they would rotate through and be taught by my students.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25k I would be able to pay off bills that have accumulated over the years. Like I said before, I come from a low-income background, and we have never had a lot of money. That money would help relieve some pressure and anxiety that weigh on my every day as a public-school teacher. We don't make the largest salaries and that is okay. We do it for other reasons. I hardly ever get to treat myself. I am a marine biologist that has never gone scuba diving on a coral reef. I could fix that.