Sarah Christena

Tell us why you became a teacher

I became a teacher because from a young age I appreciated what teachers were doing with young minds. They were molding them to become best version of themselves. They were kind, they were patient, and they felt like home. I wanted to embody that feeling as an adult for future generations because of how much I appreciated that when I was younger. Specializing in math came later and I never thought I would choose that route because I was consistently failing my math classes as a kid.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

My most memorable teaching experience was when I was teaching fifth grade. I had some of the lowest students in the whole grade and they struggled with figuring out basic math patterns. I worked hard at scaffolding the material, using manipulatives, and graphic organizers and it finally just clicked. I love that moment.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would pay off some of my debt so I wouldn’t need to work 3 jobs just to get by. This would allow me to be more focused and not as tired when it came to my main job of teaching. It would also allow me to be less stressed, when a person is stressed their physical and mental health aren't at their peak.