Laurie is very excited to be TETA's Elementary Interest Chair. Her academic and professional training includes a BA in Dance from the University of Iowa, a BS in Elementary Education from Northern State University, and an MS with emphasis in Elementary Classroom Teaching from Northern State University.

Laurie is in her tenth year of teaching K-5 creative dramatics at Old Settlers Elementary in Lewisville ISD. Throughout her career, she has choreographed many pieces for dance studios, theatre productions, schools, and colleges.

At Old Settlers Elementary, Laurie serves as a PTA board member and is honored to be a Texas PTA lifetime member. She has also written and received several grants. She coordinates meetings for all the creative dramatics teachers in LISD, and she has lead the inservices and staff development for 5 years. She is proud to be co-author of the district's curriculum, revised it in 2002, and is currently finishing the 2nd revision.

Elementary creative dramatics teachers seem to be a rarity in Texas. With the addition of Senate Bill 815, hopefully we will see an increase in creative dramatics teachers around Texas.

However, there is a little-known district in North Texas that began building this type of program long before 815 was a glimmer in any legislator's eye. Lewisville ISD is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its creative dramatics program. Due to increased enrollment the district added creative dramatics teachers in two schools in 1996, and the program has been growing steadily ever since. In its 10th year, the program is holding strong at 14 teachers. Parents, teachers, administrators and - most importantly - students are all seeing the benefits this program has to offer.

I am proud to say that I have been a part of LISD's program since its inception, and I am just as proud to serve as your new elementary interest chair. If you have any ideas or questions, please feel free to contact me.

See the Interest Group pages