Tell us why you became a teacher

I never wanted to be a teacher. I tried it after university but found I was too close in age to my students. For years I worked in a foreign country, sold real estate, ran a medical practice and worked as a social worker. When I was 42, I was contacted by an administrator at a small school. They were desperate for teachers and told me to give them at least a year. That year has turned into about 25 years of teaching. I retired with my husband and lasted 18 months in retirement.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

This year has been the labs we did with the finches from the Galapagos Islands. The students were amazed at the different beaks that had allowed the finches to adapt to foods available to them in the islands and the concept of geography playing a crucial role in adaptations of species as well as speciation.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would have the most amazing classroom and lab with the money. Any time I have won an award, it went back to my school or classroom. I would love to have stations and labs for all the concepts needed for the understanding of biological mechanisms/concepts.