Kristin Maum

Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I was a terrible student! I didn’t do my homework, I slept through class, but I was never disrespectful to my teachers—I just found school to be boring. I decided to become a teacher so that no other students felt the way I did. I want students to love learning so much that they become lifelong learners. What inspires me most as an educator is the belief that every child can learn and deserves to feel known, valued, and inspired.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

A few years ago, I taught a student in my 9th grade ELA class was struggling. After working with him one on one, I realized it was likely that he had dyslexia. Once testing confirmed my theory, we set out to ensure that he had all the tools to be successful. I showed him how to use text-to-speech apps, convert the fonts of digital texts to a dyslexia-friendly font, and tutored him after school each week. On the last day of class, he told me that my class was the first time he felt smart!

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the money to pay off my medical debt (about $18,000) from cancer treatments (I was diagnosed in early 2024). The remainder of the money would go toward my son’s college tuition. He will be a freshman in the fall of 2025!