As we continue our celebration of teachers, we highlight Lauren Moore, a 5th grade teacher at Snow Rogers Elementary. Lauren has a wonderful and important approach to helping her students feel like they are loved and a key part of her class.
Lauren’s passion and commitment to teaching her students life lessons that far exceed course work is a wonderful example of why we celebrate teachers.
Treye Hanner: Tell us a little about you and how you decided to become a teacher?
Lauren Moore: I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Dalton, for four years and we have a three month old daughter. I was raised in Fultondale and graduated college from Samford University. My teaching career begin at Tarrant Intermediate School and I currently teach 5th grade at Snow Rogers Elementary School.
During the school year, I also teach dance at North Jefferson Academy of Dance and my summers are filled with the excitement of helping my husband organize camps at Cornerstone Ranch. Teaching has always been a part of my life because both of my parents are educators.
From an early age, I knew that I wanted to teach, and I have not ever considered anything else. Even on the hard days, it is still evident that this is what God has planned for my life right now.
Treye Hanner: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
Lauren Moore: My favorite part of being a teacher is building relationships with the students. By the time the kids are in 5th grade, some have been through life hearing negative ideas about themselves. I consider it an honor to make sure that each student who enters my room knows they are loved and respected. The truth is, the students will never care about the school work until they know that they are valued.
Treye Hanner: Are there special moments where you say to yourself, “this is why I teach?”
Lauren Moore: The special moments that remind me why I teach have nothing to do with academics, but instead classroom community. I believe that teaching is far more than making sure students know skills academically. I want my students to function as a class family where we take care of each other at all times.
At the beginning of the year, I complete a social/emotional lesson with my students. This lesson asks four questions concerning how they want to be treated by each other, how they think I want to be treated as their teacher, how they want me as the teacher to treat them, and how they should treat each other through a conflict. This allows them to be involved in our class expectations and set a tone of class family from the beginning.
I remember why I teach when I see my students really start grasping this concept of community and caring for one another.
Treye Hanner: What challenges have you experienced while having to teach through the pandemic?
Lauren Moore: Teaching through the pandemic has been extremely discouraging at times. It is difficult to be held to the same standard academically as teachers and students when there is a realistic gap in learning that occurred. I have high expectations in my classroom, so I know that it is important to strive for the best; however, there also has to be a reality check that this learning gap is going to take time to overcome. I am so proud of the students, parents, and educators for continuing to push forward despite the circumstances over the past two years.
Treye Hanner: What’s the one thing you would like people to know about teachers?
Lauren Moore: One thing that I want people to know about teachers is that we genuinely love your children and want the best for them. We strive to be on the same team as parents so that we can ensure the best for each and every student that enters our classrooms.
