Lisa Moe

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I know how deeply labels can shape the way a child sees themselves. I was once told I was not “math brained,” and I carried that with me for years. I became the teacher I needed. In my classroom, students grow up hearing our motto: “Yes, I can.” My goal is to help every student believe in their potential and discover what they are capable of.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my most memorable teaching experiences was making sure a student battling cancer could still be part of our classroom. When she could not physically be there, I made sure she could Zoom into class so she would never feel left out. Her classmates carried my laptop everywhere so she could join lessons, coding projects, and even library visits from the hospital. Watching a group of children make sure she still belonged reminded me what teaching is truly about.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I won the $25,000, I would invest it directly into creating more opportunities for students to discover what they are capable of. I would expand hands on STEAM learning through robotics, coding, engineering, and maker projects where students design solutions to real world problems. These experiences help students move beyond labels and see themselves as creators, problem solvers, and future innovators.