Ryan Grome

Tell us why you became a teacher

My love of teaching started as a child because my mother was a teacher and I always wanted to be just like her. As I grew older and struggled in school myself, it only pushed me to want to help students who were just like me. Despite many who discouraged me from this career path, I stuck with it and earned my Master’s Degree. I have been teaching 4th grade ELA at Title I school for 9 years now.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was 2020, during COVID. I had to quickly adjust to the “new norm” of teaching virtually. Because of this, it forever changed the way I approached teaching. I became a master of technology, providing students with work outside of the classroom walls and boosting my ability to committed with parents and families. I have used these new skills to motivated myself to go above and beyond every school year.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Receiving $25,000 would be more than enough to improve my life and the lives of my students. With this money I could afford to pay off my own personal debts, due to schooling, moving to a new state to find a teaching career, car payments as well as food and housing. It would be a chance to get myself back on my feet and feel confident and ready to show up to work each day to help my students achieve and grow. I would also use it to supply my Title I students with all classroom needs.