Ms. Lawlor was in the PTSA at Cherry Crest Elementary before she was a Kindergarten teacher. She would help inventory science kits, help in the classroom, work on the Walkathon committee, and much more.
When asked how she knew being a teacher was her calling, she laughs in her easy-going way. “It’s like a family business. My dad was a high school teacher who also coached wrestling and baseball. When we’d go to the mall, students would stop by and laugh and joke with him. The interactions were always so positive.”
Ms. Lawlor, now and then (as a Kindergartener)
Today, Ms. Lawlor’s brother is a Middle School Principal, her nephew is a History teacher, and her niece is a Math teacher.
For Ms. Lawlor, it was the youngest kids that made her happiest. She loves teaching and seeing the transformation students undergo as they enter the public school system as Kindergarteners.
“I get to watch students grow up at Cherry Crest. They often enter as unsure Kindergarteners and they leave as confident 5th Grade Reading Buddies. It’s the best.”
Pam is also an animal lover, owning a 2-year-old yellow lab named Aero and 2 class guinea pigs.
She goes the extra mile for her students, as do all the teachers at CCE, because she cares. When asked why she has Guinea Pigs in the classroom, she says it’s all about giving students an experience they might not typically have at home.
“It teaches students responsibility, compassion, and empathy for another living thing. And it helps kids overcome their fears. Those sorts of lessons are priceless.”
And she lets all students (even those not in her class) get a chance to take the Guinea Pigs home and care for them over the weekend, if parents agree. For anyone who’s read Ms. Applegate’s favorite book, The World According to Humphrey, you know how transformational a visit home from a furry companion can be.
For Pam, the PTSA is a helpful bridge between school and home. “The PTSA brings so many fun events to the school like Family STEM Night and the School Dance, where we invite families in, they can check out the school, and step into their students’ world.”
“PTSA funding also ensures that every student gets to take part in experiences together as a class. Sure, you could do those experiences like Toymaker yourself. But there’s something about doing them together and talking about them in an academic setting that helps tie lessons together and helps students relate better to one another.”
Pam also feels that:
“Without PTSA funding, her students wouldn’t get the attention they deserve. The PTSA brings in General School Assistants (GSAs) that provide additional instructional assistance in class for her Kindergarteners. The District doesn’t provide aid like it used to, so that funding is vital for us. Those GSAs also help pick up students from various activities and provide order and safety to all students throughout the day.”
It’s easy when you chat with Ms. Lawlor to understand why she loves teaching so much. And it’s no surprise that you often see older students (mine included!) scurrying down the hallway toward her class to give her a high-five or hug. She connects with students in a way that’s sincere and kind.
Her goal as a teacher is to ensure:
“Students love school. They feel like they belong. That they want to be lifelong learners, curious, and accepting of all people, and that they understand that they can learn from all people – not just teachers, but their peers too.”
When you see her students in the hallway, it’s clear she’s leaving her mark on these tiny humans who are transforming every day, not just into academically ready students, but students who are compassionate, kind, and caring – just like her.
Ms. Lawlor’s past Kindergarten classes
