Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because I had a few teachers in my life who were crucial to my young development. Specifically in high school, I had a few standout teachers who made me feel seen and supported. I wanted to be able to offer the same experience to someone else and have a turn on the other side. I want to make a meaningful and lasting impact on my student's lives and well as help them reach their full potential. I personally find it to be the most rewarding job!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I had a class of six students who had just arrived in the US. They all spoke different languages and no English. In the time that I tried to teach them about Social Studies while facing a language barrier, I learned as much from them as they did from me. I learned how to connect and communicate with MLL learners, as well as understand their cultures and individual journeys. We would often play games together and even though we did not all speak the same language, we were able to connect.

What would you do with the $25,000?

#1 - $9,000 to my student loans #2 - $9,000 to my savings #3 - $1,000 to my classroom fund #4 - $6,000 to travel