Introduction

Hello!  My name is Laura Beth Menser (please call me Laura Beth).  I graduated from Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY) in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  I recently completed two courses towards my Master's Degree (Reading and Writing Specialist) at the University of the Cumberlands.  By the end of August, I will be half way finished with my Master's Degree. 

I taught 2^nd grade for four years at Simpson Elementary School in Franklin, Kentucky (a short, 30 minute commute from Bowling Green).  I loved teaching 2^nd grade!  Some of my favorite children's literature authors include:  Tedd Arnold, Karen Katz, Tomie dePaola, and Patricia Polacco.  I read several of these author's books to my 2nd graders and had them complete various reading activities with them.

 Due to budget cuts across the state last year, I lost my job teaching.  If any of you have experienced this before, you know how devastating it was (especially because it was right before my tenure year).  During the summer, I interviewed for a position as a kindergarten teacher at one of the Bowling Green City Schools, but I did not get the position.  A few weeks later I was called back for a kindergarten aide position at the same school.  I immediately accepted the position at Potter Gray Elementary (Bowling Green, KY) with hopes of moving forward into my own classroom for the next school year.  Surprisingly, I have enjoyed working in kindergarten this year.  The students have the sweetest hearts and are excellent at giving hugs!  I would love to teach 2^nd grade again, but I am open to teaching any grade in K-6.  I have learned important life-lessons through my experience this year, and in the future I hope to be able to encourage someone who has lost their teaching job.

I have been married to my husband, J.D., for two and a half years.  We don’t have any children yet, but we do have two very playful Siamese cats, Audrey and Sinatra.  In my free time I like to cook/bake new recipes, watch UK basketball with my husband, and attend musicals/plays at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (Nashville, TN).