A’juna Williams

Tell us why you became a teacher

I know firsthand the challenges that students in low-income home and underserved areas face—I was once in their shoes. I struggled as a student and as a child growing up in these communities, but I also learned that with the right choices, mentorship, and guidance, it is possible to overcome obstacles. My goal has always been to empower students, showing them that their circumstances do not define their future.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

Teaching my second graders how to add using place value while regrouping. I wasn’t their teacher in the beginning of the school year, but when I became their teacher they were in the bottom quartile. I used a real world situation that they could relate to , to help them grasp the concept of regrouping. I had 85% mastery for that skill and when I looped with them, they were able to assist students who were new to the school and did not have that foundational skill.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I am in the process of opening my own STEM leaning center: $10,000 for facility set-up/ equipment. $8,000 for staff and program development. $7,000 for community support initiatives.