Congratulations to NWPE member Laura Sebastiani, a first grade teacher at Fisher Elementary School, in Lynden, WA.  Laura has been awarded a $250 New Classroom Start-Up Grant  to enhance her classroom library and draw students into a life-long love for reading.  Mrs. Sebastiani plans to purchase a variety of new fiction and non-fiction books, a cozy carpet, pillows, and lighting.  "I want our classroom library to be a special place where we can learn, dream and be taken away to far off places,” she wrote in her application.

Teaching has given Laura some surprises.  "What has been most surprising is my changing perception and vision for each of my students.  As a new traditional classroom teacher, I was overwhelmed with each individual student challenges and needs. As I get to know them better, I’m starting to see them as future leaders, employees, thinkers and creators. What helps me prioritize my focus is to think how can I better equip them to have the skills and confidence to follow their dreams. My greatest satisfaction is to see kids proud of what they’ve done and to give praise for the things I knew they could already do!"

Laura appreciates how Northwest Professional Educators has supported her in the classroom.  "One of things on my radar is the need to incorporate technology into my classroom. As I think about holding this hand full of future contributors to our society, I want to give them the best advantage I can. NWPE newsletters and articles are one way for me to stay current on ways I can keep up with the changing demands in my classroom. I discovered Pinterest.com by reading one of my husband’s Education Matters articles. I learned that teachers have a heart to share and help each other." 

Laura joined NWPE after seeing the benefits it gave her husband and fellow teacher, Mike Sebastiani.  "My husband has been a member of NWPE for a few years now. He has had a very positive experience and promotes NWPE as an alternative choice to his colleagues. I share in his thinking that our dues should only be used for education issues that support people in the education field. I am not convinced the traditional union route keeps those dollars strictly to educational matters." 

Because setting up a new classroom can be expensive and frustrating for teachers, Northwest Professional Educators provides New Classroom Start-Up grants to support educators like Mrs. Sebastiani who want to provide the best educational program possible for their students.  Congratulations again to Laura!

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