2014 - Regional Teacher of the Year - Laura Currie

From an early age, Laura was inspired by the stories of her pioneering grandmothers – both teachers. She has taught 4th – 6th grades at Centennial Elementary for 44 of her 45 years in education. Colleagues and parents describe Laura as warm and nurturing with an infections zest for learning.



Laura believes a teacher’s primary job is to create independent problem solvers who know how to take risks. She says teachers should be accountable for all they do. That we should start first with student achievement, but also continue on to consider the social and emotional growth of students, a teacher’s care for his or her colleagues and the work they do outside of the classroom that benefits their whole school community.



Because she is passionate about cultivating a culture of service among students and teachers, Laura organizes several fundraising and service events every year. These fun runs, carnivals, food drives and collections for natural disaster victims sometimes directly benefit the school but also connect students to a larger community. They help build a sense of commraderie in the building, and they nurture compassion for others.



Principal Alice Drummer simply states, “Laura is the fabric of our being and the glue that holds our school together . . . she has the uncanny ability to turn even the most struggling student into a scholar.”