July 24, 2018
Lindbergh High School math teacher and Lindbergh Schools 2018 Teacher of the Year Laura Thomas has been named one of 10 Missouri Regional Teachers of the Year for the St. Louis area. This honor qualifies Thomas to apply for the 2018 Missouri State Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced in August.
Thomas teaches the high school’s most advanced math class, Calculus BC, in addition to Geometry College Prep, and College Algebra and Trigonometry. During her 17 years at LHS, Thomas has taught Algebra 1A, Algebra 1B, Algebra 1, Geometry College Prep, Algebra 2 College Prep, College Algebra, Pre-Calculus and Calculus BC.
“Laura is unquestionably an expert in her content area, and she will be an outstanding representative for Lindbergh teachers districtwide,” said Principal Dr. Eric Cochran. “Laura is someone who inspires her fellow teachers and makes the people around her even better. Most importantly, she is an unbelievable human being who cares about kids and cares greatly about what she does.”
Outside of the classroom, Thomas serves as a graduation sponsor each year and also serves on the district’s Vertical Team for curriculum alignment across grade levels. In addition, she leads a learning community for math teachers, and serves on the district’s Professional Development Committee.
Thomas recently completed a competitive application process to become an AP Calculus exam reader. Very few teachers are accepted for this position, which is responsible for grading student AP exams from across the country during a week in the summer. This honor is just one example of Thomas’ passion for her content, sacrifice for her students and school, and willingness to continue learning.
Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Saint Louis University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Mathematics from Webster University. She is a National Board Certified teacher and a 2011 Peabody Leader in Education.
