Brittany Suarez

Tell us why you became a teacher

I hated going to school. I was teased about the way I looked, I was ignored by the teacher because I was not the rockstar student or a student who struggled. I was the kid that made every excuse to stay home and had an attendance issue. I never want students to feel the way I did when I was in 5th grade and is why I teach 5th grade. I want my students to come to school every day because they are afraid to miss out on something fun.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One year I had a student who was clinically diagnosed with a fear of animals with fur. The first day of school arrived and I could tell she was nervous. Before the class came in I invited her in to pick her seat. Thinking she would sit as far from the rabbit as possible she chose to sit closest to the cage. After a few months in my class she had the courage to take our Class bunny home and now has her own god. She no longer needs therapy to get over her fear.

What would you do with the $25,000?

My dream is to build an outdoor classroom for teachers to be able to use when the weather is gorgeous or when their students just need a change in scenery. We have started getting quotes and a big part of the $25,000 would definitely help my dream come true.