EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Courier & Press wants to highlight a group of people who impact the younger generations every day -- teachers.

Every week we will showcase one educator from a local Tri-State school.

This week…

Meet Lauren Minor, an Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Virtual Academy special education teacher. Minor is in her fourth year teaching all subjects to students in grades K-8.

Courier & Press: What was your first job? 
Lauren Minor:
 Concessions for Otter's Baseball.

C&P: What's your favorite tactic for getting students to pay attention?
 Making instructions clear from the start of the lesson and changing my tone of voice as needed.

C&P: What are three items you have on your desk?
 Coffee mug with a nice quote, calendar and the American Flag.

C&P: What's one teaching supply you can't live without?
 My planner! I have to write everything down.

C&P: Debate... Chalkboard or whiteboard?
 Whiteboard, no one has time for chalk dust.

C&P: What's your favorite school lunch?
 Anything that comes out of my lunchbox. I always bring my lunch.

C&P: What was your favorite subject when you were in school? Why?
 Language arts; I always loved to read and write. 

C&P: What's one item on your bucket list?

C&P: What's the most difficult thing you've encountered being a teacher?
 When I see students who are dealing with a tough situation at home.

C&P: What's your favorite thing about being a teacher?
 When my students put a smile on my face.

C&P: Do you have a special talent? What is it?
 Running...a lot.

C&P: If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

C&P: If you weren't a teacher, what other job do you think you would like to do? 
 Anything related to fitness/nutrition.

C&P: What's the one food you can't live without? 
 Fruit (nature's candy).

C&P: Did you have braces? If so, do you have any stories about your experience with them?
 Yes. I had a special appliance to correct my overbite and it popped out when I ate a Snickers bar!

C&P: What's your biggest strength?
 Listening to others.

C&P: We know teachers are human, too. What is a weakness of yours? 
 Becoming frustrated in certain situations.

C&P: What are you listening to right now?
Easy Listening Station on Pandora.

C&P: What was the last movie you watched?
 "Forrest Gump"

C&P: What's your favorite sound?
 Fire crackling.

C&P: What college did you attend?
University of Southern Indiana

C&P: When did you realize you wanted to be a teacher?
 When I was a little girl. I played school with my siblings/friends often.

C&P: Any advice for people who hope to become a teacher one day?
 Practice patience and stand firm in your beliefs.

If you want to nominate your teacher, students can do so by tweeting to @ECP_Erbacher (Megan Erbacher) with the hashtag #TeacherOfTheWeek. Parents can also nominate an educator by sending an email to or by tweeting as well.

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