Tyler DeTomi

Anytime I am asked this question, I always respond with “I want to be the teacher I needed when I was younger.” With this, I wanted to be an advocate for underrepresented youth including those with exceptionalities, come from low socioeconomic standing, and those who have faced difficulties in life. I wanted to be a voice for those who had a difficult time using their own. Being an advocate for my students is something I pride myself on. As educators it is essential to raise all children up.

Two years ago I had a student in my class who had significant trauma. This student was struggling due to a need for an advocate. With the help of my team and my “bulldog” mentality when it comes to getting my students' support, I was able to get them the help they needed. This year the student sent me a letter thanking me for not giving up on him like everyone else. It reminded me of my why. Situations like this happen every year and it reminds me I am right where I need to be.

$25,000 is a lot of money. For starters, I would invest in a greenhouse and a maple tapping system for my school. I would love to see my school’s agricultural extracurriculars expand so that students have these skills to take care of themselves. This would get children outside and explore living off the land. The rest of the money I would invest into student loan debt, some other unexpected debts that have been affecting my family, and support for my classroom including materials.