Lauren graduated with a Master's degree in education in 2006, but because of the economy and recent teacher layoffs she was unable to find a permanent teaching position. She spent the years since then filling in as a substitute teacher when she could and working other jobs, like being a barrista at Starbucks. In the midst of this she was diagnosed with a thyroid issue and had to have surgery.
This past year things started going right for Lauren. She had found love - she met a man named Tony and they had just celebrated their one year anniversary and were talking about moving in together. In October Lauren finally was able to land a full-time teaching job, with the principle Mrs. Hochpsrung to thank. It turns out Lauren had been a student of the principle's husband years before and was still considered a family friend to the Hochsprungs. Lauren was hired as the building substitute teacher for Sandy Hook Elementary, meaning she would show up there every day and fill in where she was needed. She didn't get benefits and made only $75 a day, but she was thrilled to finally be teaching every day. Being a teacher had always been her dream job. Her mom recalled Lauren, as a child, placing her stuffed animals on the floor and "teaching" them on her mini chalkboard. On December 14th Lauren was filling in for a teacher who was out on maternity leave.
Lauren loved music, dance, and theater. Before she was working full time she would take the opportunity to see musicals on Broadway during the Wednesday matinees, when tickets are less expensive. She loved her cat, and she and her boyfriend were talking about adopting a dachshund together. She also loved Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. She and Tony had plans to go see the Hobbit with another friend on the night of her death - she had even baked cupcakes with the characters' faces on them to celebrate her friend's birthday.
Lauren's dad said that Lauren was like a kid in many ways, and that's why she loved working with them. She was always smiling... or if she wasn't she was trying to get someone else to smile. One friend called Lauren "faithful, thoughtful and ridiculously fun."
During her eulogy Lauren's friends repeatedly referenced her as an angel, and told how that's even how she signed her text messages with a little angel emoticon. 0=) One friend said that Lauren's angel wings grew fully here on Earth so that she could fly her little ones to Heaven.
We really don't know what happened in Lauren's classroom. But I have no doubt that she did what the other teachers did and put herself in front of those in her care. And there is no way that I could do 26 Acts of Kindness and not do one for teachers.
Six brave women gave their lives trying to protect their students, and I believe this is how the majority of teachers would have acted in the same circumstances. They devote their lives to helping children - and it certainly isn't for the money. They shape the minds of our kids, teach them about all that is right in the world... and sometimes have to explain that things don't always go as we'd hope. And, though it's definitely not in their job description, they protect those that are most precious to us when we can't be there to do it ourselves.
Neither of their teachers were there when we dropped off our gifts, but I hope that when they find the angels they will be touched, both by the random kindness and also by Lauren's story.
Thank you, Lauren... and teachers everywhere.
"I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives." - T. Chapman
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