Tell us why you became a teacher

When I was in high school, my favorite classes were music classes. While I considered attempting to go into the music industry, I wasn’t excited by the gig economy and self-promotion required in that field. I felt that teaching music would be a more fulfilling and noble way to spend my time.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One year, my choir was learning THIS LITTLE BABE by Benjamin Britten. This is a challenging piece and they struggled with a 3-part harmony section in the song. I wasn’t sure if the choir would perform it correctly in concert. However, when our show arrived, they crushed it! I teach at a Title I school with low test scores. Lots of people don’t expect much from my kiddos. Still, my students perform challenging choral literature. They appreciate and succeed at performing art music.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I love children and would like one of my own. I’ve spent my savings on fertility treatments to make my dream a reality, but it hasn’t happened yet. $25,000 would go a long way towards paying for IVF treatment. Maybe one day, I will have a little musician of my own.