Lauren Waguespack is a visionary force for education at Harry Hurst Middle School. Whether it’s in her sixth grade science classroom, coaching the school’s dance team, or leading the district’s professional development opportunities, Waguespack’s enthusiasm for teaching has left its mark on nearly every corner of this Louisiana community. Former students often visit her during their lunch periods and parents remain connected with her long after their students had her as a teacher.
In her classroom, Waguespack goes beyond conventional teaching methods to prepare her students for future success in STEM, creating an environment where learning becomes a captivating journey. When the class studied Newton’s Laws of Motion, she developed a Mars Rover Landing Project, and when the class began learning about pitch, frequency and wavelength, she incorporated audio and visual formats to enable students to better grasp the material. The efforts have paid off: Waguespack’s students receive high marks on the state science assessment, motivating them to attain even higher levels of achievement.
Waguespack’s influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping her into a strong teacher leader and community advocate. Waguespack is often filmed by the school district during her classroom instruction to help other teachers learn from her practices. She is involved in nearly every committee on campus — chairing the School Improvement Team, leading the sixth grade teacher faculty, serving as Technology Site Coordinator, mentoring new teachers and facilitating new teacher orientation at Harry Hurst Middle School, as well as volunteering as a state Teacher Leader Advisor.
A graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, Waguespack earned a Bachelor of Science in education in 2010 and a Master of Education in educational leadership in 2021.
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