Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because education has the power to change the way people see the world and their place within it. As an educator, I can take my love of history and show students the story of the human experience. Understanding the past helps people make sense of the present and prepares them to shape the future thoughtfully. I want to motivate students to think critically and build a future generation that improves the world around them.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have been a history educator for almost 20 years, and for 15 years, I have been taking my students around the world to experience history outside of the classroom. Walking through many locations, like the Louvre or Machu Picchu, I have experienced the learning that extended from my classroom to real-life examples of history. Students become lifelong learners in a variety of ways. Many choose to continue as adults to travel and build careers worldwide in fields beyond just history.

What would you do with the $25,000?

As a mother of a high school junior and a freshman, I would invest this money into educational opportunities for my own children. My husband and I have done the best we can to ensure our own children understand the importance of education. Financially, saving for college has been out of reach. Both my son and daughter have talked about going to college since they were very small, never if but when. I want to provide the opportunity for my children to build their own dream careers.