With more than 35 years of teaching experience, Laurel Morton has demonstrated a sincere love for education. The Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) in Arcadia, California, celebrates Ms. Morton for her distinguished career as an educator, where she dedicated herself for more than two decades before retiring in 2021.
Throughout her career, colleagues and peers have acknowledged Ms. Morton as an expert in elementary education, testifying to her profound impact on young minds and her commitment to fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment.
In recognition of her long years of commitment to teaching, the esteemed Marquis Who’s Who has recently recognized Ms. Morton for her remarkable contributions to the field of education and for maintaining lasting connections with many of her former pupils long after they left her classroom.
A Genuine Desire to Educate
Ms. Morton’s natural inclination toward teaching manifested early. She transformed her Cincinnati basement into a makeshift classroom where her two brothers and sister became her first students. Even in her classroom, she eagerly volunteered to help her teachers with classroom tasks, from decorating bulletin boards to grading papers.
From these early years, Ms. Morton pursued her dream of education until she obtained a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Stanislaus, and a Master of Arts from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she also received a teaching credential to teach within the public school sector.
An unexpected turn led Ms. Morton to temporarily move from her educational aspirations and work in the financial sector. However, she admitted that her years in the corporate world did not ignite the same passion she had always felt for teaching.
Following her heart, Ms. Morton decided to return to Southern California. Throughout her teaching career, she served in the Ontario-Montclair School District from 1986 to 2000 and in AUSD in Arcadia, California. She dedicated herself there for over two decades, marking a commendable 35 years in education.
Ms. Morton shares, “When I moved back to the area where I live now, I had the opportunity to return to teaching. It was wonderful, and I was able to get a job as a teacher again. I don’t know where I would be today if I could not return and do that.”
Ms. Morton’s Career Beyond Teaching
In her years as an educator, Ms. Morton received a Teacher of the Month Award from the Rotary Club of Arcadia in 2013. She was also recognized with a Profiles in Excellence Award for 2003-2004 from Longley Way Elementary School in Arcadia, CA.
Despite retiring from her 35-year teaching career in 2021, Ms. Morton has continued to channel her passion for service into uplifting her community. She is a former public relations officer and currently third vice chair for the Philanthropic Committee Board of Las Alas, an auxiliary organization of the Assistance League of Arcadia. Founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization, the Assistance League of Arcadia’s signature program, Operation School Bell, has assisted over 30,000 children in need since its inception. The Assistance League purchases hygiene kits and clothing items via the proceeds of the Bargain Box, a local thrift store.
In her capacity at the Assistance League, Ms. Morton continues to strengthen the organization’s efforts to support children coming out of the foster care system, new mothers, and children from underserved communities. Her commitment also extends to organizing food drives at her local church, confirming that her retirement years are spent enriching lives rather than staying idle.
Beyond her community service work, Ms. Morton remains deeply invested in personal growth and creativity. She looks forward to reigniting her passion for painting and crafting, using her free time to create art that brings joy to herself and others.
Ms. Morton’s dedication to both service and self-expression reflects a lifelong belief in the importance of giving back while nurturing one’s own passions. Through her volunteerism and artistic pursuits, Ms. Morton inspires those around her, proving that retirement can be a new chapter of meaningful contributions and personal fulfillment.
A Recognition of Lifelong Impact and Service
Ms. Morton’s recognition by Marquis Who’s Who highlights her as a professional who goes beyond her call of duty. In her decades as an educator serving her students, she emphasized the importance of collaboration, allowing her students to work together to handle tasks and discover better ways to solve problems.
However, this honor from Marquis Who’s Who is not just a reflection of her past achievements but also a celebration of her ongoing mission to enrich lives. It signifies the enduring legacy of a life devoted to empowering others and exemplifies how passion for service can transcend professional boundaries.
Previously, Ms. Morton was featured by the Marquis Who’s Who in the West in its 1996-1997 25th Silver Edition at the recommendation of Dr. Gary Garfield, who was her teaching credential professor at California State Polytechnic University. He also served as chair of the Cal Poly School of Education for her 1992 master’s thesis, which was titled “A Preschool Program: Panacea, Placebo, or Pivotal Process?”
Ms. Morton shares, “Apart from being an educator, I also want to be remembered for these community-building initiatives and other things I focus on even in retirement. I am grateful that despite going into different lines of work, I could still do what I was meant to do – enrich the lives of others through service.”
About Marquis Who’s Who
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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