Camille Lema

Tell us why you became a teacher

As a child, I can still remember those certain teachers that made a positive impact on my life. They taught me how to be curious about the world and to learn from those with more experience than me. This helped shape me into a community leader. Now 13+ years into my career, I pass on the wisdom and knowledge that my elders gave to me as tools for my students to use as they navigate the world and become community leaders.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

There are so many I could share! The most recent one happened during the winter break. I was showing a group of 5 and 6 year olds how to tie a simple knot. It took a couple of tries and lots of patience, but all of them were able to tie their first knot. We cheered and high-fived with excitement. It's moments like these that remind me why I love teaching. This may be something they remember for the rest of their lives. That is so special.

What would you do with the $25,000?

This year, I made the big decision to expand my youth art program, Crafternoon ATX, and convert an old rental home into a learning space. We have been fundraising to fix this place up, take volunteer help and do most repairs ourselves. Winning this prize would give us a huge boost in improving our new classroom, provide teacher and family resources, & give summer camp scholarships. We would pour this back into our community.