Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because my own children had a mean, sarcastic junior high teacher who almost made them lose their love of learning. That experience showed me how much students need someone who truly cares about them. I wanted to be the kind of teacher who supports students and makes school a better place, not a worse one.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One day I was in a local food court have lunch with some of my current students when a former student walked up and said he was so glad to see me. He told me he was now in medical school and that I had helped him get there. He said he always enjoyed my class, but most of all he appreciated the time and effort I had put into helping him. Moments like that remind me why teaching matters.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would turn my classroom into a real science lab with probe tables and equipment for students to use. Hands-on learning would allow them to explore, test ideas , and solve problems just like real scientists. By practicing these skills, students would learn to think critically and work through challenges. These problem-solving abilities would help prepare them to become confident and successful adults.