Hi!

My name is Laura Thomas. I am the wife of Kenneth Thomas and have been for over 30 years. We have four grown children ages 33, 32, 31, and 30. We are about to be the proud Grammy and Grampa to our sixteenth grandchild. The oldest is only 10! 

I have been in education for almost three decades. I began in 1995 as a substitute teacher in Moore County. I went on to homeschool my own children, and become a teacher's assistant in the Exceptional Children's Department at Union Pines High School. It was here that I was voted Teacher Assistant of the Year in 2010. 

In 2010, I also achieved my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a specialty in children with exceptional needs. I went on to receive licensure in both K-6 education and Exceptional Needs (severe/profound and general). This training has come in handy as several of my grandchildren have been diagnosed with an acute sensory disorder and one of my three granddaughters is profoundly deaf after a nearly deadly bout with Bacterial Meningitis in 2015. I am also AIG certified with Lee County Schools. 

In February of 2010, I moved into my own classroom of students at Academy of Moore County where I taught a 3rd/4th and a 2nd/3rd grade English Language Arts block. My students excelled in their EOG scores! The following two years I taught 2nd grade where I fell in love with the little people. 

I transferred to Aberdeen Primary to continue teaching 2nd grade from 2012-2015. Several families followed me from the Academy so that I could teach the siblings of former students. I endeavor to build a relationship with my students AND their families. Family is so important. In 2015, my granddaughter would become ill. I began teaching pre-school at Sandhills Children's Center in the 4-5 year classroom. This was convenient, as my grandson and granddaughter both attended there to receive therapies for their various disabilities. 

Once my grandson moved on to Kindergarten and my granddaughter was settled with her bilateral cochlear implants, I transferred to Lee County in 2016.  I am now in my 6th year here at "The River"! This is the best school I've ever served in! I served as the K-5 Intervention Specialist until COVID hit. As a result of needing smaller class sizes, I taught 3rd-grade last year and have moved to 5th this year teaching Math and Science.  While I was serving as the Interventionist I was also the Science Resource for 5th grade. In addition to pulling 3rd and 4th grade, I pulled 5th grade for Reading and Math. I tell you this to assure you that I am up to date on the curriculum for 5th and am excited about teaching 5th in the classroom this year.

It is my joy to work with these young people! I thank you for allowing me to be a part of their lives. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at lthomas.dr@lee.k12.nc.us . 

Have a blessed and wonderful day!