Weatherly Heights Elementary is proud to recognize Mrs. Laura Jeziorski (Mrs. J) as our 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. With 23 years of dedicated service in education and a heart for helping students grow, Mrs. Jeziorski exemplifies the compassion, skill, and commitment that define exceptional teaching.
Mrs. Jeziorski’s path to education began with a simple moment—trying to help her younger brother with homework. Even though both became frustrated at times, she realized she loved helping him learn and wanted to become better at supporting struggling students. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion for teaching.
Over her 23-year career, she has worked across kindergarten through 12th grade, serving primarily in special education collaborative settings, with additional experience in resource programs and 6th-grade general education. After taking time away to focus on her family, she moved to Alabama and felt ready to return to the classroom—bringing her to Weatherly Heights, where she quickly became an invaluable part of our school community. Mrs. Jeziorski lives by a quote that guides her classroom philosophy: “Students don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”
Her relationships with students are built on trust, encouragement, and celebration. She believes in meeting students where they are, understanding what motivates them, adapting instruction to their learning needs, and expecting success from every child. For her, the most fulfilling moments are seeing students proud of themselves—especially when they recognize their own growth. One of her favorite memories comes from a first-grade classroom, when a student ran to her excitedly with a book in hand. He read it out loud—his first book read independently. “He was so proud, and I was so excited,” she recalls. “Moments like that stay with you.”
Known for her positive connections with students and families, Mrs. Jeziorski builds relationships by asking questions, sharing laughter, and using consistent communication. She also emphasizes authenticity and teamwork as essential parts of supporting student success. When asked what she loves most about Weatherly Heights, she didn’t hesitate: “My colleagues. We work together and support each other. I couldn’t do it without our instructional assistants.” Collaboration is at the heart of her teaching. She communicates constantly with co-teachers, celebrates shared wins, and openly discusses strategies that worked—or didn’t—to help students thrive.
Right now, Mrs. Jeziorski is passionate about integrating social-emotional learning into daily routines. She incorporates morning meetings, feelings check-ins, stories that build empathy, and discussions about real-life emotions and interactions. She also believes in the power of learning from mistakes—both for students and teachers. “Errors give us insight,” she explains. “When teachers own their mistakes and use them as opportunities to grow, we model for students that innovation only happens when we’re willing to risk failure.”
Her advice for new teachers reflects this mindset: “Don’t try to be the perfect teacher. You will make mistakes—use them as an opportunity to learn.”
Students may be surprised to learn that Mrs. Jeziorski once got lost while hiking in the mountains of Colorado. Fortunately, it was early in the day—she eventually found her way back after a 10-mile adventure! In the classroom, she loves singing and dancing with her students. These playful routines build not only academic skills but also social-emotional confidence, especially for younger learners. If she had to describe her teaching style in three words, she would choose: Adaptable. Empowering. Encouraging.
Weatherly Heights Elementary is honored to celebrate Mrs. Laura Jeziorski as our 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. Her compassion, resilience, and dedication to helping students succeed make her an extraordinary educator—and a treasured member of our school family. Congratulations, Mrs. Jeziorski! We are grateful for all you do.