Tell us why you became a teacher

It was the first thing that I ever felt I had a talent in. It was hard, but came natural as well. I wanted to be a part of kids lives that showed positivity and encouragement. I see education as an act of love—building trust, igniting curiosity, and empowering students to believe in themselves long after they leave my classroom

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I taught a science lesson recently to kindergarten students about weather- the wind specifically. We made ‘wind buddy’s’ and then went outside to try them out. There was excitement, loudness, and curiosity. My favorite part was that when their wind buddies broke, they were able to fix them because they had made them in the beginning. It was magical!

What would you do with the $25,000?

Put some of it back into my classroom, pay off some student loans and save the rest.