Tell us why you became a teacher

When I was 12 I had an assignment in school called The Me Book. Flash forward 10 years and I found this little book in my closet with everything I liked, disliked, dreamed, and experienced. I found a sentence that said "I want to change the lives of children" and I just knew I needed to find a way to do that.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

During my first year, at one of the most diverse high schools in the U.S. (West Anchorage HS), I had 58 students in each of my classes and I knew I had to reach all of them. The school is in a low income area of Anchorage, and students struggled with the bare necessities of life, so everyday I made it a point to make our school a happy and safe place for them. At the end of the year, I received countless thank you cards and I finally felt like I had changed some lives for the better.

What would you do with the $25,000?

That $25,000 is going straight into my school! I'll purchase much needed supplies and equipment for all the academic, athletic, and arts programs.