KENMORE, N.Y. — Calling all Western New Yorkers! There's a teacher at St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore who's in the running to get $25,000.
"I'm passionate about all kids who need help learning. I like the tough ones. Figure out what the obstacle is and figure out how to get them to overcome it," educator Holly Pawlowski said.
Pawlowski is an 11-year veteran teacher. She's a reading specialist teaching K-8th grade. Nothing is stopping her because now she's in fifth place out of 100 teachers in the country.
"I put myself in it. The money is enticing. I struggle. I work two jobs to make this job happen. I want to be somewhere where I know that I'm making a difference though so for here it felt like home," Pawlowski said.
She hopes this job will pick up the slack she's missing coming from a school in Texas.
"I'm making about less than half of what I was making. I am not considered a livable salary," Pawlowski said.
She told 2 On Your Side she's making about $25,000 a year. This will help her with classroom expenses as well as personal.
The first round of voting closes on April 4. There are three rounds of voting. You can click here to cast your vote.