Blake Allen Hammond

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

In high school in Iowa, I was asked to mentor a student who was struggling with mathematics. After many asks to help, I decided to give mentoring a try. The experience was unbelievable and made me realize I was supposed to become a teacher. I changed my trajectory from a plan to study law to becoming a teacher. I decided to go on the pathway to teach science because there is nothing better than a good chemical reaction.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

I teach an activity called the mystery black box. These mystery boxes have objects sealed inside of a closed box, and students try to figure out what is inside. I get to watch students grapple with this problem. Students want to tear the boxes open but they cannot and do not ever get see what is inside. The memory comes about when these students are seniors and I see them at graduation, 6 years later, and they ask me "Mr. Hammond, what is inside that black box?

What would you do with the $25,000?

A science classroom needs books, artifacts, pictures, posters, models, and other objects to create a spark. I would use the money to purchase high interest, engaging science books and other manipulatives. I want students to walk into all science classrooms and have something that they can immediately pick up and see, explore, and create an excitement to know what the object is, what it does, and to just be able to wonder. Curiosity is the cure and I want to create more curious classrooms.