— LISTEE'S SPOTLIGHT —

Laurel Anne Morton is a retired educator who dedicated her 35-year career to supporting the growth of her elementary-aged students. Since childhood, Ms. Morton dreamed of becoming a teacher, and some of her earliest memories are of helping her teachers with small tasks and setting up a classroom in her basement to play with her siblings. Though she began her career in the financial services sector, she was unfulfilled by the work and pivoted to pursue her dream after earning a Master of Arts from California Polytechnic University.
From 1986 until 2000, she taught for the Ontario-Montclair School District, departing to spend the next 21 years with the Arcadia Unified School District, primarily teaching fourth and fifth grade. In recognition of her commitment to her students, she was awarded the Profiles in Excellence Award as Teacher of the Year by Longley Way Elementary, where she served for 21 years, and was honored as Teacher of the Month by the Rotary Club of Arcadia. In her retirement, Ms. Morton is active in her community as a volunteer with the Assistance League of Arcadia and other humanitarian organizations.