Marsha Betcher

I had really amazing teachers in elementary and middle school whom I never forgot over the years. Their impact inspired me to want to give back just as my former teachers had. The first time one of my own students told me that they finally understood a certain concept , I knew I was in the right place . Seeing my students reading books and not just understanding what they read but actually enjoying it and chatting about the characters, is something that an English teacher lives for.

Over the course of 30 years , I’ve had so many memorable moments as a teacher . If I had to choose just one, it would be from a former student who was a senior in high school. He was asked to choose one teacher from his past that made a real difference in his life. This student was in my fifth grade reading intervention program and had made significant gains during the year and was on grade level by the end of his fifth grade year. He explained, he attributed his progress to learning with me.

Well, that’s a lot of money that I could spend in Hawaii however some of it would be spent on my own family that sacrificed a lot when I had to work outside of school hours. I’d love to add to the school library at one of the schools I tutor in now. I’d also love to purchase books for my newest niece and help her to become a reader. Finally, I’d like to set up a savings account for my future grand children to be sure they never go without things .