Tell us why you became a teacher

I chose to become a teacher because I love seeing the excitement children feel when they learn something new. I am inspired by their curiosity, their questions, and their eagerness to understand the world around them. Growing up with family members of educators, teaching has always felt like a natural path for me. Becoming a teacher allows me to make a meaningful impact in my students lives and that is what inspires me every day.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

A memorable moment I have is when I was working with a small group of students. I asked one of my students to share what he had written. After he shared the other student in the group heard him and said, “Dang Gerald how’d you do that”? He smiled and replied,”Mrs. Jacobs made me smart”. He was so proud of himself and I was honored he thought I did the hard work. Both students amazed me. It reminds me how impactful being a teacher can be both academically and by building strong relationships.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the money to travel. My daughter lives over 2000 miles away and I would love to visit her and my grandchildren more often. My son lives in Thailand with his wife and I would love to visit them. This money would allow my husband and I to spend more time with our family and also take some much needed vacations.