Laura Hicks is no stranger to teaching in Floyd County. With 18 years of combined experience with the Rome City and Floyd County Schools systems, she is excited to take on the role of fifth-grade humanities teacher at Darlington this fall.
“Laura’s vast amount of experience and professional development training combined with her expertise in the areas of brain-based learning and differentiated instruction make her an ideal choice for Darlington,” said James Hutchins, director of Middle School. “Her teaching philosophy is right in line with what we are doing here, and I look forward to welcoming her to the team.”
Hicks holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Berry College, an M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Jacksonville State University, and a Specialist Degree in Leadership and Administration from Lincoln Memorial University.
“Teaching has always been my calling, my gift,” she said. “I am and always have been eager to learn new things, to expand my knowledge base and to experiment with better ways to achieve success. I am a continuous, insatiable, lifelong learner. I want to instill this passion and enthusiasm in my students. I have a strong desire to leave a positive effect on others by empowering them to be more competent and confident.”
Most recently, Hicks served as an instructional coach at Cave Spring Elementary School. In this role, she was responsible for supporting the implementation of standards-based instruction, assisting in differentiating instruction, and analyzing test data.
“I believe that all students flourish in a predictable, safe, child-centered environment in which they are empowered to achieve their maximum potential in a developmentally appropriate instructional delivery,” she said. “This delivery is created with awareness of and sensitivity to their individual needs. Meaningful, relevant curriculum that is student-centered will foster a passion for lifelong learning.”
Hicks has also taught first, third, fourth and fifth grades at Cave Spring Elementary and North Heights Elementary, and was often selected to mentor new teachers and student teachers. She said she looks forward to working with the fifth-graders at Darlington this fall.
“At Darlington, I feel a sense of collective camaraderie and purpose with a central focus on the individual learner,” she said. “This common goal centers around providing a quality, individualized education for each student, based on his or her unique and diverse needs. I am honored to become a member of a school community that values and appreciates this diversity. I look forward to the opportunity to develop significant, lasting relationships with my students, parents and co-workers.”
Hicks is a member of the Professional Association of Educators, the International Reading Association and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
