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Lauren Brascho was helping a small group of her third grade students with a reading comprehension exercise from their text about volcanoes.

“So, what happened on May 18, 1980?” she asked.

“Mount Saint Helens erupted,” one of the children replied.

“Was that forever long ago?”

“No,” another student said.

“How long ago was it?”

He paused.  “Thirty-four years.”

“How did you know that?”

The student explained how he did the math.

“Great!” Brascho said.  “High-five!”

In her fifth year of teaching at Coosa Valley Elementary School, Brascho said interacting with her students and watching them learn is what she enjoys most about her work.  “I love seeing them really dig into the depth of comprehension and develop confidence in themselves to understand and do things.  They confident they become, the more they grow.”

A 2005 graduate of Pell City High School, she studied education at the University of Montevallo and is completing graduate studies at UAB.  “I love teaching in the same town where I live.  I’m a product of the Pell City school system, and I feel like coming back here to teach and contribute has brought me full circle.”

Surrounded by bright, colorful posters and the stuffed owls that serve as her classroom mascots, Brascho explained what motivates her to teach, identified careers she almost considered, and named two qualities she believes are essential for elementary school teachers.

Did she ever consider doing anything else?  “From a very young age I always wanted to be a teacher. I remember playing school with my dolls and sisters starting around age three. I grew up caring for children of all ages, so I always knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. During high school and my first two years in college, I did research other careers, such as nursing and journalism, but ultimately teaching was the right choice.”

The most rewarding aspect of teaching:  “Definitely that moment when you are teaching and you see the ‘light bulb’ moment within your students. I love getting to see my students grow and advance academically. I also love when former students of mine come back and tell me that they loved being in my class.”

The best part of her day:  “It’s when I get to experience true learning moments with my students. If I’m not teaching, the best part of my day is spending time with my husband and our families.”

How she describes herself:  “Energetic and outgoing – to be an elementary school teacher, you have to be.  I really, really love people, and I’m a learner.  Being a lifelong learner is a goal I have for myself.  That’s what I encourage my students to be, so I should do it as well.”

Something an acquaintance might be surprised to know about her:  “Perhaps that I grew up dancing my whole life. From the time I was a toddler until my third year in college,  I danced weekly, mainly ballet. It was a huge part of my life and something that I am so thankful to have experienced. Other than that, maybe the fact that I love to travel.  This past summer my husband and I went to visit my sister and brother-in-law who were living in England. We visited parts of England, Wales and Italy. I love traveling and learning more about the world and other cultures.”

Her favorite indulgence:  Chocolate.

Her favorite guilty pleasure:  “Probably any time I get to read a book of my own choosing or watch a television show. I am so busy with graduate school readings, research, and assignments that I rarely get to read for enjoyment. I’m looking forward to graduating this summer so I can read whatever I want whenever I want.”

What makes her laugh:  “Here lately my sweet niece, Addison Kate, makes me laugh! She is hilarious and the cutest two-year-old you’ve ever seen.  I love getting to watch her grow and learn new things every day. Also, my husband always knows how to make me laugh. Whenever I’m having a bad day, he always knows what to say to put a smile on my face.”

Her biggest pet peeve:  “A messy house.”

The thing she fears most:  “Letting down people I love.”

If she could change one thing about the world:  “It would be that no child would ever go to bed hungry, that they would know every day that they are loved. That children would never experience pain of any sort and that they would have a warm, safe place to call home.”

The best advice she ever received:  “Luke 10:27.  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”  Also, I was told not to worry about things beyond our control, just pray. When we worry, it’s like saying God isn’t big enough to solve our problems (which He is), so don’t worry and give it up to God.  Also, I love the quote, ‘Let what you love be what you do.’  A college professor once told me this, and it has served as a great reminder to work hard every day and do what you love and have a passion for.”

The person she most admires:  “I admire so many people. My grandmother, Rita Ballard, is a huge inspiration in my life. She is such a godly, Christian woman whom I hope to be like as well. She has a huge passion and love for our Savior. She was married for over 60 years to my grandfather, Gene Jerome Ballard, and they had a beautiful love story. My grandfather passed away in August 2011. He was retired Air Force and acquired cancer from exposure to Agent Orange. I hope to have a marriage as filled with as much love as theirs. Also, I admire my mother, Lisa Murdoch. She is one of the best mothers and grandmothers I know. I hope to be the type of mother to my children one day that she was to me and my sisters.”

If she could have a conversation with any celebrity or historical figure from any time period:  “I would love to get to talk to Barbara Bush. I admire the work she has done in the area of children’s literacy.  I’d also like to talk to Paulo Freire. He was a leading advocate in the area of critical pedagogy, and I find his work in the field of education to be very insightful.”

If stranded on the hypothetical desert island, with a book, CD, and meal:  “The book would be the Bible, the CD would be Miracle by Third Day and Bable by Munford & Sons, and the meal would be filet mignon and roasted asparagus.”

The food she could eat every day:  “Anything Italian. The best meal I ever had was in Florence, Italy. Cured Tuscan meats, prosciutto, fresh pasta…Yummy! There is really not anything I wouldn’t eat again.  My mom and dad raised us eating many different types of food, so I really just love food.  I’ll try anything once.”