For Laura Robeck, teaching and family are tightly intertwined.
Robeck made the decision to be a teacher at a young age because of the influence of her family. Many women in her family became teachers and the idea stuck with her. She considered entering other fields briefly, especially during high school, but always returned to the idea of teaching.
As a math teacher of over ten years, Robeck has had more experience teaching students than raising children.
Robeck said, “Teaching gave me practice with discipline and has helped me raise my kids.”
Now, as a mother of two children, Robeck sticks to teaching math at Carlmont, but this was not always the case.
Robeck has been dancing since before she was even born, as her mother took ballet while pregnant. During high school, Robeck’s interest in dance blossomed, pushing her to try ballet, tap, jazz, and cheerleading.
In college, her dancing interests turned towards swing dancing. She was on a swing dancing team for approximately seven years and taught dance classes for five years. She continued to teach until she was eight months pregnant with her first child. The highlight of her dancing experience was swing dancing in an Apple commercial on Macworld.
A strong dance program was one the factors that made Robeck come to teach at Carlmont.
Robeck said, “I started teaching in Mountain View High School and I wasn’t happy there. At Carlmont, I liked the diversity of the programs and the strong dance program. At the time, it was a middle tier school so it was also less pressure for me.”
Ever since she began teaching at Carlmont, Robeck has always taught on the extremes. Robeck teaches Algebra Readiness and Algebra II/Trigonometry.
Robeck enjoys teaching both high and low level classes because it balances her out. Her higher classes reassure her of a positive future while her lower classes, although “frustrating and exhausting,” are more rewarding.
Robeck said, “The students go from not being able to multiply to solving multi-step equations. It’s almost five grade levels in one year.”
Robeck’s teaching methods are well-liked by her students.
Sophomore Sam Levy said, “She is a very good teacher with creative methods. She slows down so every student understands. Her flash cards keep everyone paying attention and ready to answer questions at any time.”
Her students also believe she prepares them well for future classes.
Sophomore Steven Palthe said, “She gives you extra information that makes you aware of what you will be learning in future math classes.”
