Prior to teaching for Wake County Public School System, where she was a 2016-2017 Teacher of the Year finalist, Lauren taugh in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for two years. She currently serves as the team leader for her grade-level and as a mentor for beginning teachers and Wake County Public School System’s Future Teachers Program. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Lauren continues to work with preservice teachers from the university, serving as a cooperating teacher and as a facilitator for the university’s Beginning Teacher Institute and the North Central Beginning Teacher Summit.