Katherine Hobbie and her students pose for a Halloween group picture. Photo courtesy of Katherine Hobbie.
Everyone remembers a favorite teacher—the one who made learning feel easier, or simply made the school day better.
For her students at L.L. Hotchkiss Elementary, Katherine Hobbie strives to be exactly that. Now, the kindergarten grade-level chair is taking that impact beyond the classroom as she competes to become America’s Favorite Teacher.
The nationwide contest, hosted by America’s Favorite Teacher, highlights educators across the country, giving the public a chance to vote for the teacher they believe has made the greatest impact.
Hobbie is currently competing among teachers from across the U.S., with the winner receiving a cash prize of $25,000, a feature in Reader’s Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a school assembly with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
“If I were to win the whole competition, Bill Nye the Science Guy would come to our school for an assembly,” Hobbie said. “There are a couple things I would win personally, but I really want the kids to meet Bill Nye.”
On her America’s Favorite Teacher profile, Hobbie said the $25,000 prize would make a significant difference in her life.
“$25,000 would be so life-changing for me,” she said. “I would use most of it to pay off my private student debt. I spend a lot of my own money on classroom supplies and items for my students, like clothes and extra food.”
Currently ranked third in her group, Hobbie is still in the running with supporters able to vote for her through Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. PDT.
