Khalea Allen

Tell us why you became a teacher

Growing up, I always had amazing teachers. Teachers that cared, made me feel seen, heard and loved. Teachers poured into me and without them I would not be who I am today. At 8 years old I experienced the loss of my little sister to cancer. My teachers came together to visit me weekly with activities, arts and crafts and food. To this day I remember the love I felt from my teachers. I was tired of working dead end jobs and I decided to take the leap of faith and do something I always admired.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

One of my students really struggles with math. Me and my co teacher decided to focus more on small group lessons. During the third session with him, I noticed a major change in his responses. He was actually getting it! In that moment, I felt like this is definitely what I’ve been missing. Knowing that I can make an impact on my students not just by helping them, but also encouraging them daily, they can do whatever they set their minds to.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I currently commute over an hour to get to my job each day. If I won the money, I would definitely move closer to my job. I spend alot of time commuting and when I don’t commute, I stay with friends and family. I would love to be closer so I could be more at ease and not stress about my commute and making it home in time for virtual Masters classes. I also would donate to the college fund my school has for students aspiring to go to college.