Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

When I was thirteen, I wrote in my diary “I wish to spend my life serving others”. At the time I was volunteering at a nursing home after school. I put myself through college and found myself in sales at graduation, with a lot of debt. I saw no other options. Then one day, an employer invited us to serve as mentors to children in a local school. From the moment I walked into that classroom, almost thirty years ago, I knew. I was exactly where I belonged. Nothing could stop me. It was my destiny.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Opening a school in Haiti with my students? Our Annual Veterans Thank You Breakfast? Sewing pillows for medically fragile children? Nope. It was my greatest mistake, in front of my entire class. Fearful of students dropping a 50,000 year old early human hand axe an archaeologist had brought in, I carefully moved it table to table as he spoke. Everything was fine. Until the end. I placed it in its bag and it fell through and shattered. We picked up shards of it for two hours. I was mortified.

What would you do with the $25,000?

At the end of the day, this contest is about what I have built with students and families for 24 years. Our classroom is rooted in service. We are in the process of meeting with community nonprofits to build partnerships, and hear from different voices. The students will decide how $25,000 can be allocated to best support our community. This is an opportunity to give my students a tremendous gift, so they can feel the strength, and love of serving others.