I became a teacher after homeschooling my own son through the COVID pandemic. Seeing how his unique brain worked through problems really opened my eyes to the need for teachers who celebrate and embrace neurodivergence.

My most memorable teaching experience so far has been teaching middle school. It only took one year for me to realize I’m made to teach littles. We had a great year and it was full of memories- from deep fried Oreos to a class funeral for a scab and so many field trips! It also opened my eyes to how far behind students can become in just a few short years and the importance of early, phonics driven reading lessons.

It would be life changing to earn $25,000! I would spend some of it upgrading my flex seating in my classroom. Flex seating is extremely important and beneficial to those who are neurodivergent, especially ADHD and ASD friends. Additionally, I would go back to school to earn my EDS in instructional design or administration.