Kristen LoPrell, math teacher and department chair at Grossmont High School, is one of the 2025 California Teachers of the Year. 

She says she didn't fall in love with calculus until a professor told her to change her major back. 

"That's what really ignited my passion for helping math make sense to those that hate it, those that think they can't do it. And honestly myself, I wanted to prove to this professor that I was worthy of belonging. I wanted the math I did in the future to have a direct human impact, no matter what that was."