Susannah OBrien

Tell us why you became a teacher

I have known since I was 5 years old that teaching was my greatest gift, when I would teach neighborhood friends how to read and do math. My grandmother was a teacher and my favorite uncle was a professor at Virginia Tech, I guess it’s in my blood, something I was born knowing. Getting students excited about learning comes naturally to me, and because they’re excited about learning, every student shows tremendous growth each year. I am constantly asked, “Can you be our teacher again next year?”

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience? That’s a tough question because there is easily at least one for every year. The first one that comes to mind, is the year we raised a nest of newborn Starlings in the classroom and watched each one eventually fly to freedom. My next memory would be the year every student was proficient or advanced on their end of year test, the reason, over half my class was ESL. Then, there was my first year being a part of a Disney performance. Watching students grow!!!

What would you do with the $25,000?

What would I do with $25,000? I suppose I would start by paying off debt, so I would qualify for a home loan for my son with Down Syndrome and me to purchase the home of our dreams. A home where he could live more independently.