Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because of my 2nd grade teacher. She made me love learning and coming to schools. She was sweet and charismatic. I remember her paying for my field trips when my family couldn’t. I want to be that light for someone. I want to encourage young beings to love learning. I want to be whatever they are missing.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of the most memorable moments I experienced while teaching 2nd grade happened during a quiet part of the day. One of my students slowly walked up to my desk and asked if he could talk to me. When I leaned down to listen, he looked up at me with the most serious expression and said, “Can you be my mom?” I gently asked him why he felt that way, and he told me it was because I was smart and I could teach him things, and because I gave really good hugs. He shared that his mom wasn’t around much.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the 25,000 i would first put some towards my students loans. I would also want to upgrade my classroom library and get supplies my students desperately need teaching at a low income horizon school and and make my calm down corner more calming my getting soft seating and sensory friendly fidgets