Elem teacher Laurie Basloe garners NYC Big Apple Award

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Elementary school teacher Laurie Basloe has earned a 2024-2025 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Eduction. Photo credit: Laurie Basloe

It is always exciting for me to introduce you to an outstanding educator who has gained recognition for the work they do in a public school classroom. One of these is Laurie Basloe, an elementary school teacher who has garnered a 2024-2025 Big Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education.

The Big Apple Awards recognize and celebrate New York City teachers who inspire students to be their best selves; who model equitable learning with high expectations for the diverse and dynamic needs of all students; who affirm students’ identities; and who enrich their school communities by partnering with families, community members, and community-based organizations. To learn more, click on this link to Big Apple Awards.

Laurie teaches fifth graders at PS 321 (William Penn Elementary School} in Brooklyn. She has taught there since 2013. Before her assignment at PS 321, she taught fifth grade at PS 119 for six years, and before that she taught fourth grade for two years at PS 72.

This remarkable educator has a reputation for being an active leader in her school community. “One of the things I love most about being a teacher is the ability to inspire children through many different experiences,” confesses Laurie. To meet the needs of diversity in her student population, she incorporates the arts—particularly dance, as that is her specialty—and cultural experiences in her curriculum. In addition to the work she does with fifth graders, she serves on the campus Green & Healthy Committee and on the Sunshine Committee.

Originally, Laurie planned to be a professional dancer, even though she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 7. She achieved her dream of becoming a professional dancer when she was selected to perform with the Richmond Ballet in Richmond, Virginia, until injuries halted her dance career. During three years with the ballet’s outreach program in inner-city schools, Laurie began to seriously consider a transition from arts to education. “I discovered I had this passion for teaching kids,” she recalled.

Laurie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 2001. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Brooklyn College in 2006.

3 thoughts on “Elem teacher Laurie Basloe garners NYC Big Apple Award”

  1. It’s so nice to be honored here, but the spelling of my name is wrong. It’s Laurie Basloe.

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