Kelley Nelson

Tell us why you became a teacher

I had a high school math teacher that saw more in me than I saw in myself. He was relentless in ensuring that I achieved success & all of a sudden math concepts clicked. He taught me to think differently about the world & myself. I wanted to be that influence for others, especially in the area of math, where students have a poor experience & give up on the subject too early.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I have been teaching 17 years so it’s hard to pin down just one experience. The moments when you hear from students success in their post-secondary endeavors; a project or lab that comes together & students make real-world connections to math concepts; a student persevering & having success in a concept they haven’t had success in before. Or even just the everyday moments where I am able to connect & laugh with students are all the moments that make teaching rewarding & memorable.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Probably save some of it for a rainy day or expenses for my family & then use some of it for a fun experience or project (concrete basketball court) for my family. I have 3 young children & while there are certainly some benefits of teaching & coaching for them, there are an equal number of times where I have to prioritize other people’s children over my own. It would be nice if my role as an educator would allow me an opportunity to pay those moments back.