Jennifer Mathai

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I began my career working with young children with autism. I enjoyed the role I had in these positive relationships and loved watching them grow as they learned under my care. I realized that this was my passion, and wanted to have a larger impact. After teaching special education inclusion students, I realized my interest in teaching science. Ever since then, I have loved inspiring students to enjoy science as much as I do and watching their eyes light up when they discover something new!

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was when I got the chance to take my students on a field trip to the Dallas Arboretum for the total solar eclipse in 2024. Before the trip I showed my students the science behind a solar eclipse and then to actually experience totality was incredibly emotional for me. Not only did we all experience that together, but my students were on Good Morning America creating pinhole viewers with the host and were on air when totality hit! It was truly magical

What would you do with the $25,000?

After setting aside some to pay off student loans, I would love to attend teaching conferences with my $25,000. There are so many teachers out there that I can learn from! One of my best experiences as a teacher was learning new ways to teach at a conference outside of my state. I loved meeting teachers from across the nation and learning from their experiences elsewhere. I would also use some of the funds to purchase needs for my classroom demonstrations and experiments!