Jodi Sanchez

I decided to become a teacher way back in the summer of 1995. For a summer job I became a camp counselor and I got to spend every day with third through fifth graders and it was the most rewarding experience of my life and I kept thinking wow if I did this for real, I could have an entire classroom filled with these kinds of crazysponge, soaking brains. I also became a teacher because I am a lifelong learner and I want to share my love of learning and travel and discovery with our youth.

I love my students reaction to my dolphin strandings unit where I set up a mystery as students try to solve why in 2019 there was such a large spike in dolphin strandings along the Louisiana and Mississippi coastline. They soon learn that it is because the river has gotten so high, climate change much? They learn that because the river is rising we have to open what is called the Bonnet Carre spillway, and all that freshwater intrusion leads to lesions which make them sick.

My husband would think I’m crazy, but I would use the money to improve my Louisiana coastal curriculum. I have always wanted to build my own mini wetland or outdoor classroom. Also, I recently had a stroke and almost lost my life and it is because of my students that I am working so hard to recover but I have to be honest and a little selfish and will need to use that money to pay off my outlandish medical bills.