Mrs. Beth Isaf-Lauri
Monticello High School
SUPA Public Affairs, SUPA Sociology, Government; CIC Program Coordinator
Contact info:
845-794-8840 ext. 10213 email: mlauri@k12mcsd.net
2011-12
This is my 29th year of teaching, 26th year in Monticello!
I am originally from upstate New York having been born in Cortland, NY in
October, 1961. (That's right, I turn 50 this year!!) 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 Football & Varsity Lacrosse teams. 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 served from 1987 to 2010 as the Student Council Advisor. As
part of that job (though now a separate position) I supervised, and continue
to supervise, 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 and Government. 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, 20 and Danielle, 17) a cat (Sweet Pea) and a dog, a
Goldendoodle named Taffy. John is in his Junior year at Misericordia
University where he plays lacrosse...oh and goes to classes. Danielle is a
Senior at Valley Central High School so I am once again in college search
mode (so I can relate to what you guys are going through!
I love theatre but unfortunately don't get to Broadway as often as I used to
thanks to that pesky tuition payment. I used to go two or three times a
month! I've told my son he will owe me about 50 Broadway shows once he
graduates! My other interests include watching my kids' sporting events,
scrapbooking, digital photography, and reading.
Whether it is the SUPA Public Affairs, SUPA Sociology or the Government
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.
