Susan Providence is a math teacher at Battle Creek Elementary School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has worked in education for 25 years. During this time, she has had the opportunity to teach students from childhood to sixth grade. She has also served as an assistant director, assistant principal, curriculum coordinator, special education coordinator, after-school coordinator, and union building steward. Additionally, she served on a charter school board for two years and mentored new teachers. She believes that making a difference in the life of a child is her way of giving back to the community and helping the next generation. One of her aspirations is to improve the connection between school and home, because parents are their child's first teacher.