Kari Tangel

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I wanted my work to matter every single day. And there is nothing more meaningful than shaping how a child sees themselves and the world.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My first year teaching in West Virginia, I had a first grader who tested positive for cocaine and lived in heartbreaking conditions. I became a steady, loving presence in her life — buying her a doll, taking her places, believing in her. Decades later, in her 40s, she found me and said I changed her life. It reminded me that teaching is about showing a child they matter.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won $25,000 for my high-poverty school, I’d invest in what matters most: basic needs (food, hygiene, clothing), a “YES Fund” so no child misses out on trips or activities, a calming space for emotional regulation, literacy and enrichment resources, and a small legacy fund for scholarships or teacher mini-grants — creating stability, dignity, and lasting opportunity for our students.