Laura Johnson is the 2023-2024 Edison High School Teacher of the Year!

Laura joined the Edison team in 2019. She teaches Math of Finance, Precalculus, and AP Calculus AB.

"As a teacher, my day-to-day routine looks the same, but hour-to-hour my job is vastly different! In Math of Finance, my goal is to prepare students for the real world. One of my favorite quotes from this year was, 'Wait! You have to pay for the trashman to come to your house?' In Precalculus, I am trying to develop those deep mathematical problem-solving skills. We work at getting quicker with our basic math and deeper in understanding more difficult concepts. AP Calculus AB is to prepare the STEAM math students for the future maths they will encounter after high school. My job is NEVER boring, that's for sure!"

Laura said she has always found beauty in mathematics and loves helping others gain appreciation for it.

"Through teaching I am able to guide students and see the satisfying “ah-ha” moments when concepts click. I love having a small part in each student’s life and maybe, just maybe, they can take the problem solving skills from my classroom into their own career."

She said her time with Tulsa Public Schools has helped her learn to be flexible and adapt to new challenges.

"My more advanced courses have students who crave learning and are pretty easy to engage, while my other classes need a little more motivation. The different learners really challenge me to think critically about what I teach, why they need to learn it, and how I can get them to “buy in” to the learning process. During my time at Tulsa Public Schools, I have also loved the diversity of my classroom. I have the opportunity to work with students from all walks of life. My students are constantly teaching me new things, challenging me, and helping me perfect my craft!"

Outside of the classroom, Laura has been working to fix up her 1925 home.

"Next year will be its 100th birthday so it needs lots of help! Painting, landscaping, and decorating are some of my favorite things to do outside of school!"

She also has a golden retriever that is often featured in her class.

"I have the best dog in the whole wide world. His name is Mobius (Moby) named after a mathematician. My students get to see a new picture of him every Monday for Moby Monday, I think it is the highlight of their week!"