Laura Hughes

“I want to be a teacher when I grow up”.  These are the words I told my mom after my first day of First Grade (I did not attend Kindergarten.).  These words were no doubt influenced by the desire God gave me to teach and the love and compassion of my First Grade Teacher, Miss Hart.  There were many challenges and obstacles in my path, but the desire to be a teacher strengthened as my schooling progressed and I have been teaching now for 29 years.   I currently teach Pre-K at Heronville Elementary and I have taught at Heronville for 23 years.   I was quite shocked the year that I had three students in class and I had taught their parents in Kindergarten.  It has been a wonderful experience and a blessing to teach the children of former students.

One of the most joyous parts of my job is seeing and fostering curiosity in my students.  When they are curious about their world then they are engaged and interested in their learning.   There are times during a lesson that one could hear a pin drop in the classroom because the students are anticipating what will happen next in the lesson.  That is no small feat with 20 four-year olds.  Fostering curiosity is a fun way to learn and a fun way to teach.   I am so very thankful to be a part of the most rewarding and fulfilling careers available-that of being a teacher! 

Thank you to the OKCPS Foundation/OKCPS District because this has been an amazing learning and growing experience.  A very special thank you to my Heronville colleagues (past/present) and Heronville families and former students: thank you so much for your support, encouragement, love and very kind/heartfelt expressions and words.  It is humbling and I have been deeply touched!