Zania Cain

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher to provide students with tools and resources that they can use for the rest of their lives. I feel as though my role as an educator goes beyond the classroom. I provide my students with a safe place where they can learn and thrive as they navigate through life. I want to be the teacher that I never had. One that will not judge, one that cares, and one that shows up and gives effort every single day. My students are my "why" and one day I hope I can be theirs.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is when I helped one of my SPED students with Dyslexia meet grade level proficiency within my social studies classroom. The student felt as though she would never be able to read, write, or comprehend social studies like the rest of her peers in 6th grade do. I helped her by giving her extra practice, time, effort, ordering tools that my school did not provide, and just being the support she needs to be confident. On her final unit exam, she made an A.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000 I plan to make life better for lots of my students. I teach lots of emergent bilingual students and there are so many tools and resources that we could use in our classroom to make the learning experience more enriching and comprehensible. My school has a lot of economically disadvantaged students so I would like to organize a shoes, clothes, and supplies drive that students can attend. I will also use some to take care of my mother who is elderly, who worked for over 55 years.