When Fleming students returned to school this fall, they were greeted by new music teacher, Laurianna May. May joins new Fleming staff members Danielle Wernsman and Rylie Salyards, who were featured in last week's issue of the Herald, for the 2020-21 school year.

Laurianna May

First year teacher Laurianna May is no stranger to the Logan County area as she grew up in Sterling and graduated from Sterling High School in 2012. After high school, May attended Laramie County Community College in Wyoming where she earned her associates degree in music. After Wyoming, May made the move to Hastings where she attended Hastings College, earning a bachelor's degree in music in 2017.

Although this is her first-year teaching, May brings with her classroom experience. Over the past few years, May has worked as a special education paraprofessional full-time. As a part-time job, she worked with KidStage, an after-school drama program for kindergarten through sixth grade students.

"This was my absolute passion," May said of her time with KidStage. "Getting to teach kids all about theater was the most rewarding and fun experience. I worked with one to four different schools once every week and we would have eight weeks to put on a show."

May said she choose teaching because of the inspiring teachers who taught her. "Those teachers made me feel important, and special, and they sparked my love of learning," she said. May said thinking back to her own days in school, she can still remember those teachers who put a smile on her face and made learning fun. "I want to grow up to be just like them."

While at Fleming, May will teach students in kindergarten through 12 grade in music and she hopes to add theater to the curriculum as well.

"I absolutely adore working with kids of all ages and strive for those aha moments," she said. "I want to be able to be the teacher that students look back on and remember why they loved school. I want to inspire my students to love the arts and really appreciate how important they are in our world today! I chose teaching because I know I will be able to change lives."

May said her favorite part about being in the classroom is seeing the wheels of creativity spinning for each student. She also enjoys learning from them just as much as she hopes they learn from her.

In her free time, May likes to paint and draw and spend time with her cat, Moxie, who she adopted several years ago. She also likes to play board games and Dungeons and Dragons with friends.

"I have an open mind and a three-year background in working with students with special needs," May said as a uniqueness she brings to the classroom. "Because I have worked with students of all ages and backgrounds, I think I am at a major advantage for a first-year teacher. Not many first-year music/drama teachers have the experience I do and that will allow me to teach all levels of students with a creative mindset. I want everyone to enjoy music!"