I became a teacher because of the impact my high school TV Production teacher, Mr. Ernsberger, had on me. He didn’t just teach video — he changed my life. I knew I wanted to give kids that same sense of purpose and confidence in life. I built our TV Production program, Python TV, from the ground up, and growing it and my students into something bigger than I could have ever imagined, has been the greatest honor of my life.

Last year, I took only one student to our state TV Production competition, and he won first place in the toughest FSPA event, “Edit to the Beat.” Watching him succeed was unforgettable — but what means more is who he’s becoming. I mentor him in class, at competitions, and in life. This year, I bought us both a journal to work through together as he navigates his mental health. Teaching is bigger than content, lecturing, and the mundane things. Teaching is helping change lives for the better.

As a single woman teacher in Miami, the cost of living makes independence feel out of reach. Winning would allow me to move out and begin the next chapter of my life with stability and freedom. It would mean security, growth, and the ability to keep pouring into my students without constantly worrying about how to make it work. This money would change my life in ways I never thought possible!