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Elisabeth Raab loves answering questions as much as she loves posing them.
Nearly 18 million viewers observed her penchant for summoning solutions May 4 and 9, as the resident of the 1100 block of Daly Street advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural “Jeopardy!” Teachers Tournament.
A ninth-grade English instructor at West Philadelphia’s School of the Future, the 31-year-old educator and ardent fan of the top-rated syndicated quiz show joined 14 other teachers for its first new competition in 12 years. Her appearance brought to fruition a 14-month pursuit of a spot on the Emmy-winning broadcast.
“I took an online test in January 2010,” the second-year employee at the Microsoft Corp.-backed school said Monday from her Lower Moyamensing home.
Raab figured any time on the program would come as a typical contestant, but October brought news of the teacher competition. The producers invited her in February, and filming occurred in Culver City, Ca., in March. Thrilled to participate, she needed to settle a couple major matters before adding her name to the show’s annals — adjusting wedding preparations and arranging coverage for her classes as they took the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.
“I am usually very busy anyway, so I figured making the trip would be another exciting thing to do,” she said.
With all in order, Raab took a brief break from her vocation, which includes a three-year stay at Southwest Philadelphia’s John Bartram High School and last year’s five-week excursion to India courtesy of a fellowship, to test her brain and her dexterity.
Contestants can ring in when a manually-operated system flashes a light. Raab contends everybody tries to respond 80 percent of the time, and she pressed her button only when she was very sure of her response. Her May 4 quarterfinal saw her strategy work well, as she answered 14 questions, including a Daily Double, in the Jeopardy! Round.
None of her correct answers surprised her, and she took delight in using her Jewish roots to answer a question about Yiddish. She entered Double Jeopardy! with $8,800, more than her opponents’ combined total.
“The show works hard to make everyone feel comfortable and relaxed,” she said of shaking off pre-participation anxiety.
Developing calm, she sought to bolster her lead, but her panel members proved faster, leaving her with five correct replies in the lucrative round. Her $12,400 amount put her in third as Final Jeopardy! loomed.
The week’s five winners and the next four highest-scoring educators earned a trip to the tournament’s second week, but being sequestered from the other teachers’ games meant Raab knew not how much she needed to wager to prolong her participation. She bet $4,000 on the “Famous Speeches” inquiry and responded correctly with “The Gettysburg Address.” Earning the final wild-card spot, she advanced to a May 9 semifinal.
Only the winner of her second match would continue on to the May 14 to 15 championship, so Raab looked to fend off the fingers of teachers from California and Indiana. Five retorts left her way behind at the half-way point, and though she tried valiantly, she entered Final Jeopardy! with only a slim chance to emerge. An incorrect response about The Titanic’s cargo guaranteed her the $10,000 semifinalist share.
“I would have done it for free,” she said, adding how well the show’s employees treated the teachers. “I think we all really felt like we were celebrities. My time was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.”
The cordial educator has enjoyed a remarkable run of renown lately. A Bethlehem native, she explored English and women’s studies at Penn State University, later earning her master’s from Rutgers-Camden. She moved to South Philadelphia in 2006, the same year she earned her teacher certification. A contact made her aware of School of the Future, leading her to the facility at which all students receive laptops.
“I am quite happy there and love being at a smaller school,” she said.
Switching from Bartram meant a reduction in her number of students but not in her enthusiasm.
“I enjoy my interactions with my students,” she said of the 80 pupils who receive tutelage in grammar, literature, public speaking and writing. “I hope my time on the show lets them see there are rewards that come from being smart and that seizing opportunities pays off, literally sometimes.”
The school received an appearance from Jimmy McGuire, a member of the “Jeopardy!” Clue Crew, May 4. The crew consists of roving correspondents who tape videos around the world to accompany some of the clues. McGuire engaged the students in Classroom Jeopardy!, a unit Raab aims to use again soon. He later joined her for a viewing party, furthering her opinion that the show aimed to present teachers as key figures in everyone’s lives.
“I respect that ‘Jeopardy!’ is looking to show how much teachers bring to the table,” she said. “We aren’t just people who read from textbooks and who tell students to spit out their gum.”
Part of her winnings will go toward a pizza party for her learners, while the rest may assist with other projects, including her August honeymoon. Raab married Jason Yucis, her partner of three-and-a-half years, May 7 in Media, with a short stay in Cape May, N.J., marking their nuptials. Her feet joined her fingers in being agile May 1, as she participated in her first Broad Street Run, making the month even more exciting.
“I have no qualms about losing, as the whole experience affirmed my commitment to having people view teachers as really wanting to uncover students’ potential,” Raab said.
She is encouraging her charges to try out for the annual Teen Tournament and is already considering her next trivia outings.
“My only regret is that I can’t do ‘Jeopardy!’ again, but this summer I will try the Philadelphia Quizzo circuit,” she said.
Perhaps one of her trips will include a category on Emily Dickinson, which in her teacher interview she revealed as her dream category.
“That would be nice!” she said. “Anything in the name of learning will suffice, though.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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