I became a teacher because I love history and believe students should learn it from multiple perspectives. My goal is to help them understand not only what happened in the past, but how it connects to the present and shapes the world today. I did not encounter alternative views of figures like Christopher Columbus until high school, and that experience shaped my approach to teaching. I believe students should see the good, the bad, and the difficult parts of history to understand the full story.

A recent classroom experience reminded me why teaching matters. While guiding my juniors through analyzing primary sources, we practiced identifying key details, annotating, and summarizing in their own words. During the assessment, one student independently applied these strategies by marking the document, writing notes in the margins, and using that analysis to build a strong response. Moments like this show the value of teaching students how to think, not just what to learn.

If I were awarded $25,000, I would use it to expand hands-on history experiences for my students. I enjoy creating simulations, primary source activities, and projects that allow students to see multiple perspectives, especially in Montana and Native American history. These funds would help provide materials, technology, and resources so students can actively experience history instead of only reading about it, helping them better connect the past to the world they live in today.