March is Employee Appreciation Month! We’re celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Lindsey Lauer, Alternative Education Teacher at our Spring Grove campus, and what a crazy day in her life looks like!

What is your favorite thing about working here? 

The team I work with (teachers, directors and counselors) are a united team that supports each other all the time. The students are amazing, and I love the conversations that we have each day.

What keeps you coming to work each day? 

My co-workers and the interaction with the students.

How do you make an impact on students’ lives? 

I hope that in our interactions they feel they have value and purpose in the world. By letting them know that they have something to offer, it can be the spark that starts them moving in a positive direction.

Which one of our BetterTogether values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive) 

Integrity. The world needs genuine people. Our students respond to what is real, not what is fake. If you are here, whether at home or away, you are the same person and there are no games being played. With integrity, there is safety and trust.

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role? 

Arrive at school and get my room set up, get work ready for the day, and make copies. Morning meeting with coworkers to discuss students and any issues we need to inform each other about. Once the kids arrive, I have a movie or cartoon playing while they enter the room and then talk to my homeroom about their weekend, or evening. Start with my lesson and allow the students to engage and invest in it. Allow them the last 10 minutes sit on beanbags and different seating and talk to the students about anything. During Social Skills in the afternoon, we talk about life, things they worry about, their thoughts and beliefs on things. We play games and take the time to get to know each other. Other times we talk about topics that they may have never heard of. At the end of the day, I look at how students’ days went and say goodbye.

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now? 

I initially wanted to get into Physical Therapy but began working as a Probation and Parole officer and ended up being there for 13 years.  I was given the role of training staff a lot and fell in love with instructing. I really wanted to teach and instruct because I loved the interactions and the ability to be creative. This search led me to River Rock, where a friend was working and suggested I apply.

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role? 

I don’t know if there is a moment that I could define so far. However, when the students say they learned something and you see the ‘lightbulb’ go off, or they feel comfortable talking about things and share, it makes me so happy. I love to see them play games, laugh, do yoga, willingly try meditation and see results, or cook together and they enjoy it. I believe the moment you feel they trust and happiness, it’s a gift they don’t hand out lightly.

What is something about you that not many people know? 

I love to do long runs without music.  This is my mental health go-to. It helps me clear my brain and I love it. Especially in the woods or on a beach. It is heaven for me.