Hello! I am Laurel Shapiro, and I am thrilled to be teaching Second Grade at Baker. My path to the classroom was driven by a deep love for storytelling and children’s literature. I hold a B.A. in Government from Lawrence University and an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University.

Before joining Baker, I worked in the Youth Services departments at the Vernon Area and Deerfield Public Libraries, where I led storytimes, coordinated author visits, and developed a community garden. I began my time here at Baker in Kindergarten, and I consider it an honor to guide children at such a pivotal stage in their academic journey. My goal this year is to share my joy for learning and help my students become confident readers.

When I’m not teaching, I have a few fun surprises in my background! I had a first career in broadcasting, producing for WBEZ and WGN Radio (including the Cubs pre-game show). I also love baking; last summer, I completed a professional pastry internship with the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group.