School District of Lancaster’s Post

This week’s staff spotlight is shining bright on Laura Reynolds,or as her students know her best, Miss Laura. As a Building Assistant at Burrowes Elementary School, Laura has become an essential part of the school’s daily rhythm, community spirit, and heart. Her role may come with many hats, but every day she leads with kindness and purpose. Miss Laura’s day begins before the first bell rings, and for many of our students, she’s one of the very first faces they see. Every morning, she greets students at breakfast alongside her teammate Mrs. Patterson, offering hugs, smiles, and warm hellos that help set a positive tone for the day. These seemingly simple morning moments are deeply meaningful, especially for students who rely on school for a sense of connection, comfort, and consistency. And for Miss Laura, that morning energy, those grins, giggles, and tight little hugs, immediately fill her with joy and motivation to tackle the day ahead. From there, she shifts between classrooms and responsibilities. Her role is intentionally flexible designed to meet the needs of students and staff across the building. She might be sitting beside a student working through a tough math lesson, jumping in to help a teacher with a lesson transition, or answering behavioral support calls with a calm, centered approach. She’s someone who can be counted on to lend a hand without needing to be asked. Her presence is steady and unassuming, but deeply valued by everyone around her. But if you ask Laura what her favorite part of the day is, she'll tell you it's lunch. The cafeteria can be noisy and full of energy, but for her, it’s a time when she gets to check in with every single student in the building. Every other week, Miss Laura also runs the school store, where students use their earned Dojo points to “buy” small items as a reward for positive behavior. What looks like a simple transaction is actually a celebration of growth and effort. Laura delights in seeing their faces light up with pride and accomplishment. She doesn’t just see what they’ve earned, she sees who they’re becoming. A colleague who nominated her shared: “Miss Laura is a vital part of our building. She not only supports in multiple classrooms, but also is in charge of our positive behavioral reward system. It takes an endless amount of time and energy to create our Burrowes bucks as well as calculate every students amounts and help run the school store. Miss Laura also is on cafeteria duty, which is no small feat! She is patient, kind, understanding, and respectful of students of all needs! Miss Laura goes above and beyond to connect with students and build relationships. There are multiple students who seek her out when they are having any type of problem or issue and need a trusted adult. She also assists in bus dismissal, which is a heavy task! Our building would not be what it is without building assistants like her!” Read her full story on our website #SDoLPA #SDoLProud