Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I love helping kids grow! When I was little, I struggled to make friends, and it made me sad. I wanted to be the grown-up who cheers loudest when you finally get it, who makes learning fun with games and humor, and who believes in you even on tough days. Being a teacher is my favorite job because every smile, every “I did it!”, reminds me why I chose this special path.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had been working with a student who really struggled in Math. For weeks, we would work 1:1 or in a small group on understanding fractions and how to compare them. She would get upset, cry, and be frustrated because she couldn't understand it. Finally, one day, we had a breakthrough and it clicked! When she finally understood and could answer a question without any hesitation, you couldn't take the smile off of her face!

What would you do with the $25,000?

There are so many things! I would use some money to update my classroom. I have also been driving around in a very old car and would love to get a new one! I would also love to take my 2 little girls on vacation!