Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I love helping people. I used to practice teaching my brothers and sisters when I was young. I’ve helped young people along the way through youth group, Girl Scouts and now as a certified teacher. Every day there is something that I can learn from my students, and that they can learn for me. I wake up inspired to go to school, share what I know, listen to what my students know, and create a meaningful, skillful work based environment.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was having my students build a portfolio of the work they completed during the semester for Wealth Management. The students reflected on their work, and almost all of them recognized the importance of what they had learned and how it will help them in the future. They also shared with me that understanding planning, decision making and solving problems are essential skills. That awareness is what I had hoped for.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would tithe, put a little in savings, take my daughter and son-in-law on a vacation to the Caribbean and then I would pay what’s left toward my student debt.