Brooke Blacknall

2024 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

"When students are passionate about what they’re learning about, they really have a motivation to push through and persevere.”

Being homeschooled by her mom, Olivia Blacknall, taught Brook not only the importance of having a strong foundation of knowledge, but also the power of connecting that subject matter learning to students’ interests and the community in which they live. While she may not be able to take her class on all the field trips she enjoyed with her mom, she nonetheless aims to create experiences tailored to her students’ interests through “in classroom fieldtrips.”

Here is Brooke's story about her mother Olivia, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2024 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.