Mrs. Beth Isaf-Lauri
Monticello High School
SUPA Public Affairs & SUPA Sociology; CIC Program Coordinator
Contact info:
845-794-8840 ext. 10208 email: mlauri@k12mcsd.net
2009-2010
This is my 27th year of teaching, 24th year in Monticello!
I am originally from upstate New York having been born in Cortland, NY in
October, 1961. My father was a professor at SUNY Cortland and my mother was
the Career Placement Librarian at SUNY Cortland. Both are now retired. I
am the oldest of five children, the only girl with four brothers! Two of my
brothers are lawyers and one is in public relations so you can see that
talking and love of a good "discussion" run in the family!!
I graduated from Cortland Junior-Senior High School in 1979. While in high
school I was active in Student Council, the school newspaper, the yearbook
and the drama club among many others. I sprinted and jumped for the Girl’s
Track team (I know, hard to believe, but I did actually hold the school
record for the 100 yard dash…it was yards not meters then!!). I also kept
the book and stats for the Varsity Lacrosse team. I had a great opportunity
to travel and experience a different culture when I spent my Junior year
abroad in The Netherlands as a Rotary Exchange student. I still had the
time to do my school work (a family requirement!) and was inducted in
National Honor Society and selected for Who’s Who Among American High School
Students.
I graduated from LeMoyne College in 1983 with a BA in Political Science and
a minor in Education. While in college I continued to be active in student
activities serving on the Student Senate, as editor-in-chief of the college
newspaper for two years, as a member of the Orientation Committee, the
Boot & Buskin Drama Guild and the Young Republicans (which allowed me to
meet then candidate for President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy).
Academically, I was inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor
Society and Pi Gamma Mu, the National Social Sciences Honor Society and was
selected for inclusion in Who's Who Among American Universities and
Colleges. I earned my Master's Degree in Secondary Social Studies from SUNY
New Paltz in 1989.
I started my teaching career in September, 1983 at North Warren Central
School in Chestertown, NY. This was a beautiful place to live and work,
located in the Adirondack Mountains about 20 miles north of Lake George.
While there I served as Class Advisor to the Class of 1986, newspaper
advisor, and cheerleading coach (can you believe that?!?!). I was also
active in the community drama program and the North Warren Faculty
Association.
In September of 1986 I relocated to the Hudson Valley to be closer to my
future husband and started teaching in Monticello. In my time at
Monticello I have served since 1987 as the Student Council Advisor and
supervised the Thanksgiving Food Drives and Holiday Toy Drives (two of the
finest activities our school engages in I believe). I have served on more
committees than I care to count and been active in the Monticello Teacher’s
Association. For several years I had the pleasure of working with a
wonderful music department and terrifically talented students on the
HS musical—definitely one of the highlights of my teaching career! Another
highlight was being notified at being selected as an Outstanding Educator by
Philadelphia College of Textiles and for inclusion in Who's Who Among
American Teacher's thanks to student nominations.
In September 2008 I took on a new role at MHS as Program Coordinator for the
newly expanded College in the Classroom program, while continuing to teach my
SUPA classes. It has been an exciting and challenging change of pace and I
look forward to continuing the fine tuning process for our concurrent
enrollment partnerships.
My husband Mike and I were married in 1988. He is an engineer at IBM. We
have two children (John, 18 and Danielle, 15) a cat (Sweet Pea) and a dog, a
Goldendoodle named Taffy. John is beginning his Freshman year at Misericordia
University where he will continue to play lacrosse...oh and go to classes to
hopefully become a math teacher. Danielle will be a Sophomore at Valley
Central.
I am a devoted (some might say obsessive!)fan of theatre and spend as much
time as possible seeing shows on Broadway. My other interests include watching
my kids' sporting events, scrapbooking, digital photography, and reading.
Whether it is the SUPA Public Affairs or SUPA Sociology course my primary
goals are to enable, encourage and teach students to think critically;
analyze information; access information using available technology and
resources; present that information clearly, concisely and accurately;
present information in public and process information from oral
presentations. All of these are life skills which, if mastered, will serve
them well in college or the workforce. In addition these skills will help
them in navigating their day to day lives as adults.
