Laura graduated from Miami University with a B.S. in Elementary Education and earned her Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado graduating summa cum laude. She began her teaching experience in Kings Mills, Ohio. She has taught kindergarten through 8th grade with 12 years of regular education and 6 of gifted education.

Laura earned a certificate in gifted education from the University of Denver and part of a second Master’s degree from Regis University. She started a science camp for girls called Mindscapes, headed curriculum committees, run science fairs, accompanied countless musicals, attended space camps for teachers, developed multiple staff development in-services, and presented at three National Science Teacher Association conventions. Science is her specialty.

She says the pinnacle of her career took place in October 2000, when she was surprised with the Milken Family Foundation’s National Award for Teaching Excellence. She was honored for her innovative and enthusiastically presented teaching methods. The $25,000 award came with a trip to an educator’s conference in Los Angeles in 2001. “It changed my life, and it opened up more doors than I could have imagined,” she said.

In response to the Milken Award, she was recognized in 2001 by the Colorado State Senate and House of Representatives as an excellent educator. Since receiving the award she has attended many conferences and meetings with government officials, state board of education members, and other state education officials.