After 32 years of teaching, Laura Devlin is preparing to retire, leaving behind a lasting impact on a career defined by dedication, humor, and genuine care for her students.
Throughout her time as a teacher, she taught a wide variety of subjects, including English I, English II, English IV Honors, English IV, Spanish I, Film and Literature, and Creative Writing.
No matter the class, her goal always remained the same: helping students grow in confidence and understanding. Devlin was inspired to become a teacher by her own senior year English teacher, Mr. Burnett, whose teaching style left a lasting impact on her.
“I really liked his style, and thought that I could be like him,” Devlin said.
That guided her into a career that would impact many. For Devlin, the most rewarding part of teaching was seeing
students overcome struggles. She explained that watching students finally “get it” and seeing their confidence grow was the best part of her job.
Those moments made the long hours and challenges worth it.
Like many teachers, she faced difficulties, including unmotivated or frustrated students along with the demanding workload that comes with lesson planning and time. Still, pushed through by reminding herself that learning happens differently for everyone.
Devlin hopes her students remember not only her “strange sense of humor,” but also how deeply she cared for her students’ success.
She acknowledged that some students may have felt she pushed them too hard, but her intentions were always to want the best for them.
One of the most important lessons she tried to teach was that everyone learns on their own timeline.
She believes that nearly every student will succeed eventually, even if it takes longer than expected. Junior Nuha Bangash shared that Devlin’s teaching style stood out because of how patient an understanding she was.
Bangash explained that Devlin made students feel comfortable asking questions and never made them feel embarrassed for not understanding something right away.
“She really took the time to explain things until they made sense,” Bangash said.
Another senior, Lainey Hunt, who took Creative Writing with Devlin, described her as “an amazing teacher” who devoted time to helping students understand better.
Hunt said the class challenged her writing more than any other course she has taken, pushing her to do better.
She especially appreciated how Devlin worked one-on-one with students who needed help. Hunt also described the classroom environment as welcoming and fun.
“She always greeted us and made everyone feel welcome,” Hunt said.
One of her favorite memories was a peer feedback paired with a cookie party, where students offered feedback on each other’s stories.
As Devlin looks toward retirement, she is more excited about traveling, beginning with a trip to the Dominican Republic and later a trip to Rome and Greece.
She also looks forward to not having to wake up early, though she admits she may still stay connected to education through tutoring.
While Devlin may be leaving the classroom, the lessons she taught about confidence, patience, and believing in yourself will remain with her students for years to come.
