Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to inspire and help others become lifelong learners like myself. I became a math teacher because I fell in love with mathematics in my high school Geometry class. My teacher made it comfortable to make mistakes because he wanted us to think and engage in mathematical discourse by questioning & critiquing others’ thinking and showing different/creative problem-solving methods to arrive at the solution.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

A unit project that defines me as a teacher is my Coffee Shop Data Analysis project. Students develop understanding of statistical problem solving by using the GAISE model (Formula Questions, Collect Data, Analyze Data, and Interpret Results) as well as summarize and describe data distributions for their very own coffee shop business. This project is student-centered, focuses on discovery learning, applies to different learning styles, and can be differentiated for all levels of learners.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the $25,000, I would use it towards putting a down payment on a house/paying off some of my student loans/credit cards. I live with my two sisters and mother, and we have been searching for houses for 3 years. My dad passed away 7 years ago, and we have always dreamed of having our very own house. This money would make that dream a reality.