Tell us why you became a teacher

I actually didn’t plan to become a math teacher! I stumbled into it through the New York City Teaching Fellowship after graduating college. With a national shortage of math teachers, I stepped into a classroom and discovered the power of helping students see patterns, solve problems, and build confidence. What started as an unexpected path became my passion: making math meaningful through exploration, travel, and real-world connections!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my favorite moments was a schoolwide Pi Day celebration in my second year of teaching, where every math teacher agreed to get pied in the face by students. Pure joy and laughter. It reminded me that learning sticks when students feel excited and connected. Years later, students still remember the math…and the pie!

What would you do with the $25,000?

If I win, I’ll create a free virtual math field trip to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park so every student, no matter their zip code, can travel and explore Hawaii. Through Traveling Miss T., students will learn about the landscape with a virtual field trip by StoryMap and by Coordinate Plane! My mission is simple: give kids the chance to see math as a tool for adventure, discovery, and understanding our incredible planet.