Maria Mauro

Tell us why you became a teacher

When young, I realized that I always preferred investing in the future of children rather than going shopping. As a young adult I would drive my younger cousins to piano class or take them to the park or the zoo. As an adult I saw myself teaching and inspiring children instead of getting clients to make a profit. It is very fulfilling to invest in the lives of children for they are our support system if not our future.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

When I was teaching kindergarten we started using thematic units. I taught in one of the poorest suburbs of Chicago and the kids were undiagnosed and some had never held a pencil or a pair of scissors. I am creative and started with the theme of the sea. They had to cut out fish and had to differentiate between rainbow fish (fiction) and real fish (non-fiction). They learned to hold the pencil to write and the scissors to cut. I then introduced them to the Rekenrek. They got number sense.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I created a fashion club at my elementary school. I would invest in it more to make it the best club ever! I would also invest in a green house so that the students can learn hydro and aquaponics. I would like them to learn how to make food and help the less-fortunate. I would also invest in field trips that teach them about robotics and stem.