Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to support kids in achieving their dreams. I had many opportunities in my life to choose the schools I wanted and be what I wanted. I know that others are not as privileged as I was, but I can provide my students with the skills to create opportunities and connect them with resources to support them in their endeavors. I want to share my passion for science and learning to shape young minds and prepare them for their future.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is sharing the joy of discovery and problem solving in my Stoichiometry Bottle Rocket Project with my students. Each year I challenge my Chemistry students to propel a 2 L pop bottle as far as possible using nothing but baking soda and vinegar. The very first year I started this (2021), a group went 91 feet and no group until last year (2025) even got close. It has been so fun seeing the various ways they try to figure out how to beat the record.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the $25,000, I would take a trip to various places around the world to marvel at scientific and artistic masterpieces. I would see El Castillo in Chichén Itzá, Machu Picchu, and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. I also would love to see the Louvre in Paris and some of the Ancient Greek temples still standing in Greece. Any money left would be put to practical uses like paying off my car and for a down payment on a house.