Michele Morelli

Tell us why you became a teacher

My brain is wildly creative and I love to learn. I have a brain WIRED for education! I was in the gifted support program as a child and it made me the inquisitive leader I feel I am. It fostered a love for learning, inquiry and discovery, and there’s nothing more rewarding than discovering they way in which my children with special needs learn. My job marries science, creativity, love, guidance and problem solving into one wild ball of joy. I love this job.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a child who came to me in third grade with zero language and such aggressive behaviors that we were clearing the room daily for hours at a time. Outplacement was a frequent conversation. Now, in 5th grade, he made such exceptional leaps in language, communication and academics, he is my star pupil and one of the most like kids in his general education classroom! I LOVE what I do- I couldn’t be more proud of this kid.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I spend my own money weekly on cooking activities- meats, cheeses, condiments, tools, EVERYTHING. I’d use the money on my classroom pantry and functional instructional tools to help my students learn holistically in the natural environment. My classroom could really use a revamp of quality items for kids with very significant needs. I create EVERYTHING! We could use so much, from maker space items to Independent task items.