Karen Jablon

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I have always enjoyed working with children. In elementary school, I wanted to become a pediatrician, but I quickly learned that I liked teaching other kids instead. I loved learning, and I wanted to share my love of learning with others.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my students really struggled with reading and spelling. I taught him lots of ways to help remember various spellings and how to figure out words from context clues. One day I overheard him tell a classmate that he didn't feel stipid anymore. When the classmate asked him why, my student said that it was because I had shown him that he learned and remembered things differently and that I was teaching HOW to do things for himself. Everyone else always did things for him. He hated it.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would love to create an outdoor learning space for my school. Nature is so important and being able to have an outdoor classroom would be amazing. I know my school would put it to great use.