Laini Watson

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because of the impact my own teachers had on me. My 4th grade teacher made learning fun, so fun, that I would go home and play “school”! On the other hand, I had teachers that did not make school a fun place to be. My 4th grade teacher instilled a love for learning in me that I work every day to instill in my own students, hoping they will also see the beauty and joy in learning new things. My goal is that they will also become life-long learners,no matter what path they take.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience is when I worked with my 1st graders on a genius hour project where we built our own community. Each student was able to create their own building using cereal boxes and other materials. Some students chose places like McDonalds, while others chose homeless shelters and apartment buildings. This allowed students to share pieces of their identity and reveal what they value which allowed them to create stronger relationships with each other and with myself.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to move my husband and I out of our apartment and purchase a home. We plan to start a family soon and have always dreamed of doing so in a home we can call our own.