Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher due to my passion to help students. I want to see young children succeed to their highest potential, and this can happen when they have teachers who care about their full well-being instead of teachers that care just about passing scores. It’s such a rewarding feeling when my students come to school excited and ready to learn, all while feeling loved and safe in my classroom. Teaching is a passion of mine that has come true. I don't see myself doing anything else.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of the many memorable teaching experiences of mine would have to be when we started a new unit for math. Seeing my third graders excited about what we were learning really warmed my heart. They have real life situations going on outside of school, but everyday they try their hardest (and succeed) and come into the classroom ready for the day. They were so excited to share with me how they had seen the content we learned last year in their second-grade class.

What would you do with the $25,000?

First, I would pay off the remaining balance of my student loans then I would stock my classroom with essential supplies and items for the 2026–2027 school year. The money will help support my students’ needs through the school year and for the future school years to come! I have taught at a school in a high poverty area, and I have seen students needing basic items like notebooks, folders, and pencils; I don’t want that to be a problem in my classroom.