This week’s staff spotlight is shining bright on Laura Reynolds,or as her students know her best, Miss Laura. As a Building Assistant at Burrowes Elementary, Laura has become an essential part of the school’s daily rhythm, community spirit, and heart. Her role may come with many hats, but every day she leads with kindness and purpose.
Miss Laura’s day begins before the first bell rings, and for many of our students, she’s one of the very first faces they see. Every morning, she greets students at breakfast alongside her teammate Mrs. Patterson, offering hugs, smiles, and warm hellos that help set a positive tone for the day. These seemingly simple morning moments are deeply meaningful, especially for students who rely on school for a sense of connection, comfort, and consistency. And for Miss Laura, that morning energy, those grins, giggles, and tight little hugs, immediately fill her with joy and motivation to tackle the day ahead.
From there, she shifts between classrooms and responsibilities. Her role is intentionally flexible designed to meet the needs of students and staff across the building. She might be sitting beside a student working through a tough math lesson, jumping in to help a teacher with a lesson transition, or answering behavioral support calls with a calm, centered approach. She’s someone who can be counted on to lend a hand without needing to be asked. Her presence is steady and unassuming, but deeply valued by everyone around her.
But if you ask Laura what her favorite part of the day is, she’ll tell you it’s lunch. The cafeteria can be noisy and full of energy, but for her, it’s a time when she gets to check in with every single student in the building.
Every other week, Miss Laura also runs the school store, where students use their earned Dojo points to “buy” small items as a reward for positive behavior. What looks like a simple transaction is actually a celebration of growth and effort. Laura delights in seeing their faces light up with pride and accomplishment. She doesn’t just see what they’ve earned, she sees who they’re becoming.
A colleague who nominated her shared:
“Miss Laura is a vital part of our building. She not only supports in multiple classrooms, but also is in charge of our positive behavioral reward system. It takes an endless amount of time and energy to create our Burrowes bucks as well as calculate every students amounts and help run the school store. Miss Laura also is on cafeteria duty, which is no small feat! She is patient, kind, understanding, and respectful of students of all needs! Miss Laura goes above and beyond to connect with students and build relationships. There are multiple students who seek her out when they are having any type of problem or issue and need a trusted adult. She also assists in bus dismissal, which is a heavy task! Our building would not be what it is without building assistants like her!”
Now in her third year at SDoL, Laura says this has been her favorite job she’s ever had, and it’s easy to see why. She doesn’t just love working with students, she genuinely connects with them. Whether it’s a drawing handed to her in the hallway, a spontaneous fist bump, or a student who turns to her in a moment of need, she sees each child as someone worth investing in. It’s not unusual for middle schoolers who once attended Burrowes to stop in their tracks when they see her, running over for a hug, eager to tell her what they’re up to now. The fact that these students still seek her out speaks volumes about the impact she’s had on their lives.
Laura’s connection to Burrowes is personal, too. Her own son attended the school, and she credits the staff there for helping him through behavioral challenges and into an Emotional Support program where he now thrives. That experience inspired her future goals: she’s currently enrolled at Western Governors University, pursuing her bachelor’s in early elementary education while working full-time and raising her son as a single mom. It’s not an easy balance, but she’s driven by a clear purpose. She eventually hopes to earn her master’s in special education and lead a Learning Support or Emotional Support classroom, where she can offer students the same support her son once received.
Laura often credits the women in her life for helping her stay focused and hopeful. Her great aunt Jane, a nurse who modeled compassion and tenacity. Her sister-in-law Brittany, who has worked in nearly every role in education and encouraged Laura to keep pushing forward. And her coworkers, especially Kim Debord, who’ve shown her what it means to teach and support students with care, empathy, and strength.
At Burrowes, Miss Laura is more than her job description. She’s a builder of culture, a source of joy, and a quiet leader in her own right. Her favorite memories include all-staff meetings, where energy and purpose fill the room, and she feels part of something bigger. And that’s exactly how she describes working at Burrowes and in SDoL, it’s a family. A community that shows up for each other in every season, celebrating milestones, lifting each other in hard times, and always remembering the “why” behind the work.
Laura, your energy, thoughtfulness, and commitment to our students and your own growth make a real difference, not just at Burrowes, but across our entire district. We are so proud to cheer you on and honored to walk alongside you in this journey. Thank you for being part of what makes SDoL a true community.
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Together We Can …
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