Laura McGrath is a resource teacher at Rose Lane Elementary. This is her first year as a resource teacher, but she has been teaching for well over a decade. McGrath has taught K–4th grades and she also previously taught a specialized inclusive class.

As a resource teacher, McGrath works with students on their social and emotional well-being. Students may be dealing with autism, a learning disability or developmental delays that require some added support at school, she explains, and her new role means that she works with different students throughout the year. The number of students she teaches changes as new students are added to her roster and students she works with meet their goals and no longer need extra help.

McGrath worked in the Osborn District before she began teaching in Madison Elementary District. She has her master’s in special education. As a third generation Arizonan, McGrath grew up in Paradise Valley. Her mom was a special education teacher and McGrath knew she also wanted to be a teacher “since I was little,” she says. “I always loved being around children—it makes me happy,” she says.

As a student, McGrath says her favorite subjects were reading, writing and social studies. When she was young, McGrath played soccer and enjoyed playing school. These days, McGrath enjoys hiking, reading and cooking. “I love to make Mexican food,” McGrath says, and while she tries to make a healthy version of her favorite dishes, she admits she loves cheese!

Student Tiago nominated McGrath. “She is kind and very patient with me,” Tiago notes. He appreciates that McGrath helps him with his feelings.

McGrath wants her students to remember that success is less important than trying their best—the important thing is to keep working to reach their goals. She also likes to remind students that “we don’t all have to be friends, but we do all have to treat each other with respect.”

“One funny teaching story…is that one year I was in the dunk tank at my school’s carnival,” recalls McGrath. “My students knew I would be in it and they SHOWED UP to dunk me. I think I got dunked at least 15 times—it was fun and funny and, best of all, the students happily talked about dunking me for the rest of the school year and how I screamed and reacted.”   

McGrath has two kids. During the interview McGrath’s daughter chimed in—she wanted to let everyone know that she has a great mom!