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EDITOR’S NOTE: The LaGrange Daily News is doing a Q&A with all of the teachers of the year in the Troup County School System. Today, we are writing about Laurie Hester, a Gifted teacher at Rosemont Elementary School. We asked her 20 questions, and we shortened this interview to some of our favorite responses.

Laurie Hester has been at Rosemont for the last nine years, but she has worked in education for 23 years, all with the Troup County School System.

Laurie and her husband Christopher have been married for 21 years and have two children, Madison and Jackson. Madison graduated from Troup High School and is attending the University of Georgia. Jackson is a senior at LaGrange High School, plays the drums in the band, and is a member of the baseball team.

Hester coaches the A World in Motion (AWIM) Jettoy Club and the Rosemont Elementary Drone Club. She has coached both clubs for nine years. She is also involved with her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop and her son’s Boy Scout Troop.

What or who inspired you to become an educator? 

“I always had a love of school growing up and had great teachers. I have always loved working with and teaching children.”

What are your career aspirations?

“I am currently working on my Doctorate of Education degree and would like one day to be a college professor and help students interested in becoming teachers achieve their goals.”

If you weren’t a teacher, what career field would you be in?

“I cannot imagine myself in any other career field but education, but I would like to work for the Weather Channel. I find weather and weather patterns interesting.”

What fictional character (from a book, movie, TV show, etc.) represents your teaching style?

“In the book Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry, Mrs. Pidgeon encourages her students to be creative and inventive.  She allows her students to be themselves, and when her students suggest a project that would add to what is being taught, she finds a way to incorporate the project. I also encourage my students to be creative and inventive, and when a suggestion is made for learning, I make it applicable to state learning standards.”

What’s the most creative/unique project one of your classes has worked on?

“One of the most unique projects my classes have worked on was when one of my students came up with an idea for our class to create arcade games for a Reading celebration for their peers during Genius Hour. The students were creative and inventive, collaborated, researched, wrote about their research, and used math and leadership skills during the celebration.”

If you could invite any historical figure to speak to your class, who would you choose and why?

“Albert Einstein said, ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ I would choose Albert Einstein because I would like for him to come and speak to the class about perseverance and not giving up when you are not always being correct the first time. Knowledge is important, but being creative, thinking outside the box, and perseverance will be important traits in their future jobs.”

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

“The most rewarding part of my job is when a student is struggling with a skill, and after much practice, the student masters the skill. I love seeing the joy on their face.  I also love watching students learn and grow in their knowledge from year to year.”

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

“The most challenging part of my job is time.  There never seems to be enough time to teach everything I would like to fit into each day.”

What did it mean to you to be named your school’s teacher of the year?

“To be named Rosemont Elementary’s Teacher of the Year meant the world to me.  Every day, I work with the best teachers, staff, parents, and students! Rosemont Elementary is a very special place, and I was honored to be chosen Rosemont Elementary’s Teacher of the Year.”

On a weekend or a summer day when school is out, what are your favorite activities?

“I enjoy going to the beach or the pool and reading books.  I also enjoy going to Braves baseball games with my family and friends.”

As your students transition to the next grade or graduate in May, what is one key takeaway you hope they carry forward from their time in your class?

“I hope my students always know that no matter what grade they transition to or how old they are, I am always there for them.”