SAN ANGELO, Texas — (Editor's note: The attached video originally aired Aug. 16, 2019.)
San Angelo Independent School District's “golden girl” Laura Elms can hardly walk down a street in San Angelo without running into an adoring former student or a colleague who she has mentored in some capacity. She has touched thousands of lives in her 50 dedicated years of service to the children of San Angelo and the district. So, it was fitting on the first-ever “SAISD Difference Maker Day” on May 6, 2022, she was celebrated in big way as the culminating recognition at a district-wide event.
“It is the greatest privilege to honor Mrs. Elms, our golden girl, who is the wind beneath so many wings,” SAISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Professional Learning, Dr. Farrah Gomez, said in a release from the SAISD. “Nothing stops her positive force. We are proud to honor her inspirational milestone service, and lift her up as she has lifted so many others up through the years.”
At the event, Elms’ fellow campus staff members from Lake View High School surprised her by wearing special t-shirts with a picture of her and the words “The Golden Girl” emblazoned on them, in loving recognition of her positivity, great influence on her school community and many years of service. The crowd cheered and waved signs specially made for the occasion. Gomez shared words of appreciation with Elms and the crowd, and presented her with a custom golden apple award.
Elms teaches English at Lake View High School, where after four decades at that campus, she has become somewhat of a local celebrity. Her peers affectionately refer to her as “Momma E”. She can recall tough times such as overcoming the fire in 1998, and the resilience that followed.
Many who know her, note how simply her presence makes the LVHS campus a better, more welcoming place and that she is part of what makes Lake View so special.
With a half a century of teaching, her impact is far and wide in our community. She has helped thousands of students along the way, fostering their hopes and dreams. Some former students have even joined SAISD to become fellow SAISD Difference Makers, such as Crockett Elementary Principal Clayton Hubbard.
“I have had the pleasure of experiencing Mrs. Elms as my high school English teacher, as a coworker during my time at Lake View, and also as a friend. She has impacted my life in immeasurable ways and has taught me lessons in each of those three capacities,” Hubbard said. “Her wisdom and passion for helping others helps make up the amazing person that she is! The truth is that there are many, many others that feel the way that I feel about Mrs. Elms as she has reached the lives of countless individuals during her time as a teacher. Mrs. Elms is truly one-of-a-kind and the SAISD community is blessed to have her!”
Other words that have been used to describe her include legend, amazing, loving, mentor and kind. She is known as a believer in students and encourages them to be rare and unique, to chase their own excellence. In her time teaching, she has seen great changes including shifting from chalk and chalkboards for students to technology such as iPads.
She reflected on this at the beginning of this school year saying, “As I get ready for my 50th first day of school with my students, I traveled back to the fall of 1968 as I prepared to step into my first English classroom at Central High School. At teacher in service, I had been handed copies of the junior literature book and the junior grammar book. I was ready to take on the world. This morning, in the LVHS library, Jennifer Freck and Brandon Ligon placed the ‘world’ in my hands with my new iPad! We are so excited about the possibilities that await our students.”
A native of San Angelo, Elms is a homegrown SAISD Difference Maker. She attended Austin Elementary School, Edison Junior High and Central High School, where she was a Tex-Ann. She is also a graduate of Angelo State University where she was student body president.
San Angelo ISD and Lake View High School are incredibly appreciative of Elms and her numerous contributions to our students, SAISD and community. She exemplifies a SAISD Difference Maker in every way, including her steadfast commitment in each of the 50 years she has served the children of San Angelo. Today, we celebrate SAISD Difference Maker Mrs. Elms and all SAISD Difference Makers, and invite the community to join in sharing their gratitude as well for her legacy of a lasting impact on our community.