Tell us why you became a teacher

I've always had an obsession with science. Working blue collar jobs, I would share the newest things I had read with my coworkers. Even when people didn't know much about the topic, I was able to talk to them and spark their curiosity. Watching someone's eyes light up with an "a-ha!" connection became addictive. I realized, as a teacher I could spend every day talking to people about science and sparking those moments of discovery with many more people.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

We made pancakes to show what factors control the speed of chemical reactions. Students made connections to content while learning how it applies to everyday life. Students, who typically needed additional encouragement to work, were enthusiastic to get started, which caused a spark of curiosity in me. I researched how to incorporate project-based learning into other units. I realized units with simple relatable projects were something to help all students learn, and it transformed my teaching.

What would you do with the $25,000?

This would allow me to finally launch a professional development program to change how we interact with students. Like I did with my coworkers and science years ago, I find that I love inspiring teachers to think in new ways. I am now developing my own courses to teach educators how to humanize students, promote equity, and individualize curriculum to ensure everyone feels learning is achievable.