Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to help students believe in their own success and to help them succeed. I became a teacher to be a safe space for children to learn academically and emotionally. I became a teacher to help the next generations of children become successful, positive and productive members of society.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching moment has to be when one of my Russian students who has little English was able to articulate a science concept that she understood. She was able to explain it with gestures and few English words that she understood what we had learned.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use my 25,000 to pay off my student loan debt in order to be able to afford to buy my family a house.