I was created to teach. My calling became clear when I found the One who made me. I changed my path in college and spent a summer teaching VBS, sharing my faith with students in Brazil. It was there that I finally understood what my dad had been telling me all along: “Naomi, you should teach. You tutored your friend in high school and helped her make the Honor Roll. Now she’s a nurse. It came naturally to you, and you love kids.” One pivot was all it took.

A specific fifth-grade student is hard to forget. He was determined to move out of the special education group, so he could stay in my class. He asked for more practice with writing. So, I met with him during his specials, and little by little, the light bulbs started to go off. He began catching on more quickly, his confidence grew—and the next year, he was now in my class as a sixth grader—this time in inclusion! He grew two grade levels on his ELA LEAP assessment.

I would donate to Starfish Ministries in Cenla, La. This group invests in the lives of our most vulnerable youth and has helped some of my own students! I would invest in flexible seating, hands-on materials, and art supplies to create a more engaging classroom. I would purchase subscriptions to Wayground, Flocabulary, Blooket, Nearpod, etc. to enrich instruction. Lastly,I would further my education through trainings; invest in my boys’ future education; and make memories with my family.