Aneela Masood

Tell us why you became a teacher

I knew I wanted to be in a people profession but this has fulfilled my checklist completely. I truly love all things school-even on my most challenging days. Spending my days making sure my students are feeling their best, sharing their curiosities, comfortably challenged, being kind people, and just having fun through it all makes my days so much brighter. I love my teacher and whole staff interactions too! I live for the collaborative environment and being able to make an impact each day.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

An unexpected outcome became a memorable experience when I recently taught a lesson on place value that I thought flopped. As the lesson ended, I had a student notice a number on the wall in our classroom and she said,” look there’s 4 tens and 6 ones in that number! Then, students were all chiming in and noticing numbers around them and doing the same! I was reminded in this moment, that even in lessons that I think fail, I do make a difference in inspiring curiosity, relevance, and having fun.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My 93 year old engineer dad continues to be an inspiration to me in ways beyond measure. He has always been curious about high speed train rides, and I would love to be able to make this travel experience a reality. I would be humbled if I could also aid in my kids' educational futures. Supporting programs that promote and support curious kids learning and having fun could become a reality for me too! Further, having a library wall with a ladder in my house could make my pipe dream tangible!