As a child who grew up in a single-parent household and in circumstances similar to many of her students, Abingdon, Maryland's Lauren Hunter possesses a unique blend of empathy and excellence. That she went on to become her high school's valedictorian, earning herself a full college scholarship, only reinforces her status as role model to a raft of young minds at William Paca/Old Post Road Elementary School.
In her classroom, tables of four are strategically placed to allow for seamless differentiation. The array also reflects Hunter's keen understanding of group dynamics as well as individual learning styles. She has also developed a behavioral reward system to reinforce positive behavior, which contributes to advances in academic performance and an atmosphere of trust and respect. Students are unafraid to ask questions, and their parents, too, are an integral part of the learning process.
Her students show high levels of growth and advancement each year. 2012 reading results indicate that 17 out of 19 scored proficient or advanced.
Hunter has served on the School Improvement team and as grade-level chair. She mentors new teachers and supervised an intern. For two years, she was the after-school program coordinator. An exemplary model teacher for the county, she was chosen to demonstrate a reading lesson for the superintendent so that he could observe the teacher evaluation process.
