Laura has lived in Middle Tennessee all of her life, raised by her mother who was an educator and musician. As a young child she spent her free time reading, playing games, and enjoying the slow, unstructured days of summer and uninterrupted playtime. Later in childhood, Laura moved right here to Fernvale, and was soon spending her days climbing haybales, wading in the creek, making mud pies, and roaming the property with her cousins. She also grew up spending time with both of her grandmothers, both of whom were gardeners and excellent cooks. From her childhood experiences, Laura gained an appreciation for children’s literature, benefited from free time to explore, play and discover, and began a path that would ultimately lead to early childhood education.
Graduating from Lipscomb University in 2000 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Family Studies, Laura’s first job was as a teacher to four and five-year-old children in a small cooperative preschool program in Green Hills.
Following that, she pursued her interest in the research intervention field, working at Vanderbilt University for 11 years as a project coordinator for a social-emotional intervention program, implemented in Metro Nashville elementary schools. Throughout that time, Laura often missed working in early childhood education, and in 2016
returned to the field as director of a Reggio inspired preschool in Franklin, TN. There, she learned the value of the arts, and the power of honoring the capabilities of each child.
Laura and her husband Trey live in Fairview with their daughter, Eleanor, and dog, Cosmo. She enjoys baking, reading, and traveling, and as a family they have a goal of traveling to all 50 states! Laura is thrilled to return to her roots by joining the beautiful, joyful, and inspiring learning community that is Ferntop!