Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a science teacher because I walked past the science lab at my kids' future high school, and it was being used for storage. Where I live In rural SD, they couldn't find a science teacher. The students were learning science through an online teacher. I felt the kids deserved better and to learn through hands-on exploration. I walked away from my 10-year career as an RN and went back to school to become a teacher. I don't regret a thing!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my most memorable teaching experiences was when I was trying to teach my biology students about photosynthesis. As I explained electron transport, they all looked at me as if I were speaking a different language. So I changed to explain the process using an analogy of students in a school. I was acting it out with so much energy. When I finished, some students looked like maybe they understood, but one student jumped up and said, "I get it! Mrs. Woods, I actually get it!" That was great.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I were to win the $25,000, I would pay off my student loan for my teaching degree. The remainder I would use on lab equipment for my classroom and take my students on a trip to Yellowstone. I love to give my students memory-making moments, and many have never left SD. It would be phenomenal to take them somewhere to make a memory while learning about one of the coolest places in nature!