Lauren Vallortigara joined the Cooper Dual Language Academy staff in 2014 as a third through fifth grade diverse learner teacher. This is her second year as a teacher at Cooper, and her fifth year as a teacher. Ms. Vallortigara believes in holding students to high academic and behavioral expectations. She believes that students should be held accountable for their academic progress and behavior. Her students are encouraged to practice patience and respect to all students, teachers and staff. Also, she encourages students to share what they have learned in school with their family, friends and community.
Ms. Vallortigara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Diverse Learning Education at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is a proud alumni and was the only student from her class to be nominated and accepted to the Franklin Honor Society. The Franklin Honor Society was founded in 1956, on the 250th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth. In the words of its charter, the objective of the Society “is to emphasize scholarship, character, and ideals of the students of Roosevelt University, and by recognition of students through election to membership, to stimulate the open-minded search for truth, the appreciation of intellectual excellence, and to foster the democratic spirit which were outstanding qualities of Benjamin Franklin.” This was a tremendous accomplishment and Ms. Vallortigara is dedicated to instilling these morals and values in her own students on a daily basis. In her free time, Ms. Vallortigara loves to snowboard, scuba dive, practice yoga, swim, hike, travel and spend quality time with family and friends.