Henrico's Top Teachers – Laura Becker, Laburnum Elementary School

Teaching a special education class of pre-kindergartners over a computer screen wasn’t exactly what Laura Becker expected to be doing for the past year or so, but COVID-19 had other ideas.

For Becker, though, the pandemic was just another challenge in search of a solution – and another failed attempt to try her patience.

Becker is now in her fifth year working with special education students at Laburnum Elementary School’s early childhood learning program. She primarily teaches two- and three-year-olds who are non-verbal or who have speech or other developmental delays. These students typically need face-to-face learning, but Becker figured out ways to connect with them while school was entirely virtual anyway.

“Honestly, I was so amazed with how well they adapted,” she said of her students and their ability to learn even in virtual settings. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to the parents – I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Using songs and other attention-grabbing prompts to capture their focus during synchronous learning times online, Becker was able to bring the class together, despite some initial bumps in the road.

“The first couple weeks were really rough, with a lot of empty rooms [on the screen] with the kids running away,” she recalled. “But now the kids who are still virtual are just crushing it.”

For many of Becker’s students – she usually has about 10 each year – success during the course of the school year is measured in simple progressions, such as their ability to learn how to communicate with their parents.

“I love being able to see that progress,” she said.

Her role isn’t for everyone, but Becker’s mother suggested she consider special education after it became clear when she was a child growing up in Chesterfield that teaching was in her future.

“I was one of those little kids who always played school,” Becker recalled, adding that her mom “saw the patience in me and just the love that I have for the kids.”

Both characteristics shine through to others, too.

“Laura has gone above and beyond, with the added challenge of virtual learning, with kids with special needs who rely on social and physical interaction to stay engaged and develop skills,” one nominator wrote of Becker. “She has pre-recorded story times, fun interactive learning sessions with different household items that parents could have around the house.”

Wrote another: “Laura faces challenging teaching scenarios on her best day (let alone when unable to give her special education students the one-on-one attention she provides them), and absolutely lives for her students. She is fully dedicated to her students and their success.”

Becker still stays in touch with some families and students from previous years, including one from Roanoke, where she spent the first four and-a-half years of her career.

“Laura LOVES her students and remains in their lives for years after they have left her classroom!” a nominator wrote. “She is so dedicated to creating a supportive, loving and structured environment for her students who face incredible challenges every day.”