Kelly Champion-Smith

Tell us why you became a teacher

I thrive on seeing growth of our youth. I teach health and PE. So, unlike most teachers that mainly see mental and knowledge growth I get to see physical, leaps and bounds that my student students make every day as well. I love making connections and building relationships with students of all different types of diversity levels. I love understanding their culture and what makes them tick.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I would have to say when one of my students became valedictorian and included me in their speech. The student started off the speech explaining how life is like a track meet. At the start of a race you’re waiting in the blocks ready for the gun to go off to sprint to the finish line. He used the analogy of high school of being in the starting block and graduation as the gun going off and now the real journey begins.-life! His inspiration for the speech was that I was his high school track coach.

What would you do with the $25,000?

First, I would take a vacation to a national park for about a week with my husband. I would take about $5k and invest it back into our PE department for new equipment. We are always the last to get funds at school. Then, probably invest it the remaining amount for future savings.