Samantha Jones

2024 "Pass the Torch" Scholarship Finalist

“What I liked about Mr. Laughrea was that he always found the good in my work, even when my answers were completely wrong.”

When it came to math, high schooler Samantha Jones felt defeated and looked down on. But her math teacher, Mr. Laughrea, changed all that. Whether or not she got an answer right, he encouraged her critical thinking and applauded her strong work ethic. He never labeled a student as bad at math, but simply told them they hadn’t solved a particular problem… yet. As an educator, Samantha wants to carry forward this “growth mindset,” always celebrating students’ accomplishments, no matter how small.

Here is Samantha's story about Mr. Laughrea, the teacher who inspired her.

Want to hear the stories of the other nine finalists? Visit our 2024 Scholarship Finalists page.

Thinking of applying to this year's program? Learn more on our Teachers Test Prep "Pass the Torch" Teacher Scholarships page.