Tell us why you became a teacher

I’ve always loved school. When I was little I played “school”. There was so much that attracted me to it. When I was little, the attraction was “teaching”. Once I became a teacher, that attraction grew to include the relationship I developed with my students. Now 20+ years in, I want to continue teaching because I realize that I really am making a positive difference in their lives.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable moment so far was when my substitute teacher was my former student. He told me that he was studying to be a doctor and he wouldn’t have had the courage to do so if I hadn’t believed in his ability. When he was in 7th grade I encouraged him to leave my basic math class and take the advanced course. He said it was hard but he recognized that moment as a turning point for his career path.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use some of it to improve technology in my classroom. I would like a smart tv or something similar to present lessons. I would also like to buy better microscopes, and digital scales. I would contribute the rest of it to my two daughter’s college education.