Harper, a third- grade teacher in Southwest Washington D.C, was named the city's teacher of the year and is one of four finalists(决赛选手)in the national1. No teacher in D.C. has ever won the national2since 2005.
"When I got the call I was so surprised. I was like, Wow, are you3?" said Harper, whose school4students who are mostly black and from low-income families. "But I'm5, being able to share my students' amazing stores. ''
Harper studied law in college but became interested in6After she graduated in 2012, she decided to teach for a public school7her father left the same school. Her father8dropped out of school, but teachers pulled him back in. Finally he9school and became a business owner.
"I can't imagine if someone had10my dad," Harper often said.
Like her father's11Harper believes every child has the possibility to learn at high levels and she pushes them to reach those12. Her goal is to build a classroom full of confident 8-years old who won't doubt their13.
Teaching is painstaking but Harper has no plans to14the classroom. She wants to develop her15skills, continue learning from other teachers and keep improving. Her16goal—maybe in 20 years —is to17more students as the country's education secretary(部长).18 ， her focus now is placed on the students she teaches each day.
"I want my students to know that I19them and I wish them to take an active part in the classroom" she said. "The more they know you care, the more likely they will be20."
