Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher after my daughter started Kindergarten. I found myself spending most of my days at the school volunteering in hers and then many other teachers’ rooms helping the students and teachers in any capacity I could. I logged more hours than some of the teachers. It was my favorite place to be. I loved the kids and the whole process of them learning and taking in information. Just to see the transformation from the beginning of the year to the end year is amazing.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

In my very first year of teaching, I was doing a small group station with one of my little guys. I praised him on his accomplishments and told him how smart he was. He started to cry! When I asked him what was the matter he said my dad always tells me I’m stupid… I reassured him that he was amazing and super smart and to NEVER forget that. That he could do ANYTHING he put his mind to. He drew me a picture of the classroom. I still have that picture. I pull it out on the hard days.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Part of the money will go to help the purchasing of new playground equipment we’ve been trying to raise for a couple of years now. The rest will go to pay off bills.