Sarai Lacy

Personal / Professional Blog Space for

Sharing Ideas + Creative Endeavors

High School Counselor – Educator – School Leader – Creator – Traveler

A passion for changing lives

“Dynamic student support teacher, counselor, leader

– motivated to help students find their passion in the world through the exploration of learning, programs, support, clubs,

community partnerships, and goal setting–
committed to creating a positive,
energized, and focused school environment that motivates students to perform at their personal-best while fostering a lifelong appreciation for
learning and the continuous striving for
their own attainment of
success and literacy.”

Driven Business Leader

Worked in Los Angeles as a retail co-manager and visual merchanidiser of two high traffic, high volume stores. Brought them both to performing out of underperforming levels that had lasted a decade.

Dynamic Educator, Integrator, World Traveler

Subject areas taught: English, social studies, art, digital media and art, and business at the high school level.

Brought students to Japan in 2019 and planning a trip for 2025 to Paris.

Started several clubs on campus including a recovery-based harm reduction group and coordinated a table-top role playing game with therapists in the Rogue Valley.

Student-First Responder

High school academic and social-emotional counselor at the high school level. Helped students who are in poverty to get their needs met, apply for financial aid, scholarships and grants, get into prestigeous colleges, trade schools and programs, and met kids where they are at, with love, every time.

Teacher Leader and Supporter

Revamped our Student Services Team, SST, with site council (active member) and Belonging Partners/Positive Discipline to respond to the needs of students and shift classroom and school culture to pro-active, positive, and productive place to be. Provided mentorship to new teachers.

Family Connector and Liaison

Worked with Belonging Partners/Positive Discipline to bring a 6-week training workshop to parents who are struggling with their young adults at home.

Visionary

Founder of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Visual and Media Arts program at Crater Renaissance Academy / Crater. Lead teacher and licensed two of the new hires to the program. Envisioned, created, and passed off the program to three brilliant educators who are continuing this work of bringing industry-standard work to young people 100% of whom qualify for free- or -reduced lunch.

Community Service and Project-Based Learning

At the heart of my teaching and educational philosophy is to provide students with hands-on real world experiences that are exciting, meaningful, and relevant to them. I utilize a constructivist model for learning in which I seek to co-create lesson plans that are based on the needs and interests of my students.

Created the artwork at Bear Creek Park in 2018

Students created some of the artwork ideas in advance and pitched the ideas to me and to the Parks and Recreation folks.
They were able to take that artwork and create beautiful playground art that was enjoyed by the community – finding out how to paint in a large scale.
Students learned about grit and determination! It rained for a lot of the four days that we were there and students persevered through this and were so proud of their accomplishments!
We met up for the ribbon cutting ceremony (right) and our school was commemorated (below) for all of our work.

How can you make an impact on the world when you’re only one person?

I’ve learned that it takes sometimes just ONE person to believe in you. Sometimes that’s you!
Grit can be taught. It comes through experiencing and moving through difficult experiences together.
Be inspired! Say, “Yes!” Stay inspired.

“We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.'”

– Marianne Williamson