Tell us why you became a teacher

I was actually recruited into teaching - my job with the NGO I had been working for, that depended on EPA grants, disappeared after 9-11. The head of HR for the Providence school district heard and demanded I get a credit audit so I could work at the new science high school that had just opened. I ended up with all the science certs, and as the school was small, even though I was hired as the physics teacher, I also taught all the electives, and created 2 of them. I have never been bored since!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

As there are too many to write in 500 characters, I’ll use one from this year, in my new school. There was a Youth Climate Conference being held, but on a Saturday. A THIRD of my students gave up their Saturday to attend with me, and then proceeded to come after school once each week to develop a project to impact their community. In class we attempted to test different ways to reduce skin cancer, and even though our yeast never developed, their designs were great and they didn’t get discouraged

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would take my students to Iceland - there are a number of amazing companies doing impressive things with Biotechnology, and I have personal connections to the country as well. I want to combine tours and interviews with these companies along with some side trips to the awesome countryside and the various environmental wonders.