Allysa Gentry

I knew I wanted to be a teacher from an early age. In middle school, I fell in love with fractions. One day, while learning how to divide fractions, I was the only one in class who understood the concept. My teacher asked me to explain it to my classmates, and as I helped them, their lightbulbs began to go off. Seeing their understanding grow was the best feeling in the world, and it solidified my desire to help students learn and succeed.

My most memorable teaching experience was when I used a hands-on investigation with Desmos to teach transformations of absolute value functions. Watching my students actively explore and connect their findings to the math concepts was incredible. The excitement and engagement in the room reminded me why I love teaching—seeing students take ownership of their learning and gain confidence in their abilities is a moment I’ll never forget.

If I were given $25,000, I would invest in creating a more engaging and resourceful learning environment for my students. This would include purchasing updated technology, like graphing calculators and interactive software, to enhance math instruction. I’d also provide classroom supplies, fund hands-on projects, and organize educational field trips to show real-world applications of math. Additionally, I’d pursue professional development to bring innovative strategies back to my students.