What inspired you to become a teacher, and what keeps you passionate about education?
I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was in high school. I did my community service hours my senior year at a girls’ group home offering them tutoring every week and that solidified my interest in this career. It has always been a passion of me and I ended up going for both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education. Although this career gets frustrating at times for many reasons, I have shifted gears a few times (teaching different grade levels and content areas, working at different schools with students from different backgrounds, or even moving to different roles), so I can keep my passion and motivation alive. My passion gets refueled when I work with students and see the fruits of my labor later on.
Can you share a memorable moment from your teaching career that had a significant impact on you?
A recent memorable moment was seeing the seniors I had worked with for a full year (and some of them for two years) walk across the stage and graduate.
How do you stay updated with the latest educational trends and innovations?
I read articles about education occasionally, especially about my current role. I also have enjoyed going to the FCTM Math conferences in the past because it gave us a chance to attend different presentations about teaching and learning, and also interact with other teachers from across the state.
What advice would you give to students who aspire to pursue a career in teaching or education?
I would tell them to definitely volunteer with youth groups and offer tutoring, volunteer or get a part time job in an educational setting while you are going to college and definitely do internships at schools to really understand what it takes to become an educator. Teaching is not for everyone and it’s very important to get as many experiences in the field as possible.