City Year Detroit School Partner Spotlight – Laurielle Martin

City Year Detroit’s school team at Gompers Elementary-Middle School nominated Ms. Laurielle Martin for our School Partner Spotlight because she is a phenomenal Teacher. Ms. Martin teaches 6th-graders English Language Arts. We asked her questions to help you get to know this remarkable teacher.

“The City Year Gompers team chose to highlight our 6th grade ELA partner teacher, Ms. Laurie. We chose Ms. Laurie because if you asked us to show a teacher who truly cares for and about her students we’d point you in her direction. We’ve seen first-hand her impact on not only her students, but many other students of all grades at Gompers as well. Ms. Laurie pours her all into her students and the lessons she teaches. She goes beyond the scope of the curriculum and instills life skills within her students. She carries a warm heart and always gives the students who are deemed “bad students”, a safe place. These are a few of the many reasons why we chose to highlight Ms. Laurie. She is one of the many teachers that make Gompers great!”

– Bird Sullivan, Impact Manager Gompers Elementary-Middle School

1. How many years have you been in education?

This is my 8th year in education, but 3rd year at Gompers.

2. What’s the most rewarding part of being a teacher?

The most rewarding part about being in education is being able to create and establish long-term relationships with my students and their families, along with being able to create window and mirror concepts and experiences to better help students understand life in and beyond the classroom.

3. How do you work with City Year at your school?

I establish a report with my City Year first to ensure we work as partners instead of an authoritative approach. Then I continue to keep them involved in the classroom by assigning tasks such as reading, leading small group rotations, bathroom break lead, etc. 4. What’s a fun fact about you?

4. What’s a fun fact about you?

A fun fact about me is that I am genuinely silly and love to laugh. Also, I am scared of planes but travel in and out of the States often.

Thank you, Ms. Martin, for your dedication to students at Gompers Elementary-Middle School!