Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher by accident. I needed to step into a position of necessity and it proved to be my purpose in life. Every year I get a glimpse of who I was as a scholar and how I could and should have been supported as a learner with different needs! I am growing, modifying, and perfecting into the teacher that I needed as a student.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was receiving a letter from a mom during Teacher Appreciation Week highlighting how her son hated school in previous years but after being in my class he is excited to come home to tell her about all what he learned in school. That made me feel good about the work that seems thankless. The "aha" moments and making healthy mistakes and correcting our thinking is my WHY!

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the $25,000 I would use it towards a downpayment for a house for the girls I help through my nonprofit -- SistaHaus Community Network -- that are aging out of foster care. They are in need of stable housing, I currently help with resources such as career readiness, social outings, financial literacy, and the long term goal is to get a semi independent transitional house to bridge the gap between homelessness and hopefulness!