Payton Hunter

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to be the person a younger me never had. When I was growing up, I faced a lot of challenges in school especially with anxiety and mental health. Now that I am older and have finally come to terms with the fact that my academic and social challenges were not my own fault due to a lack of trying like I was always told, I want to be the person in my students life that helps them work through their challenges and helps them grow regardless of anything trying to hold them back.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

In my first year teaching, I taught kindergarten. Many of my students came in with little to no previous school experience. One of the moments that I remember most clearly is when I completed my first quarter assessments and compared the information to the beginning of the year baseline data had gathered. Seeing the growth that my students had made in three months made me so proud, and that feeling of pride solidified that I had chosen the correct path and was truly making a difference.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I currently work for a small non-profit school that is at risk of closing due to financial stress. If I was chosen I would use the money to not only build and support myself and my classroom, but the school as a whole through minimizing debt, running a new advertisement campaign to get new families through the door, and increasing salaries to increase teacher retention. The 25,000 would not only be school-saving in the moment, but would also be used to set the school up for future success.