Samantha Fair

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because God placed in me a passion for helping students learn, grow, and gain confidence in their abilities. I believe each student is created with purpose, and teaching allows me to serve them by bringing clarity, encouragement, and joy back into learning while reflecting Christ’s love through patience, support, and care.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experiences come from transforming my classroom into immersive, real-world learning spaces. I’ve turned lessons into a burger and wing restaurant to teach tax, tip, and discounts, created Dr. Seuss–themed stations to review math in fun, engaging ways, and hosted Glow Days that make learning exciting. These moments bring math to life and help students see learning as joyful and meaningful.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If awarded the $25,000, I would thoughtfully invest in my classroom while also meeting the needs of my family. In the classroom, I would purchase math manipulatives to help students move from abstract concepts to real-world understanding and upgrade technology, including graphing calculators, to better support instruction, engagement, and student success.