February 2026 Educator Spotlight

This section of our newsletter allows us to recognize the amazing mathematics teams, educators, and leaders in our community.
In this newsletter, we are spotlighting Laura Tracy from Atlas Middle School. Laura was nominated by Erin Wahler-Cleveland because, although she already had very strong content knowledge, she chose to participate in two Developing Mathematical Ideas seminars (for a total of over 50 hours). Her drive to continue learning, her openness to considering new ideas for how to best support her students, and her leadership in the learning of other PD participants deserve recognition.
Laura Tracy has been in math education for 12 years now. Graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a degree in Secondary Education - Mathematics, she spent her first year teaching math abroad in the Federated States of Micronesia through the WorldTeach program. She then taught 6th-8th-grade math in Wittenberg, Wisconsin, for two years, when she began to realize that what brought her the most joy in the classroom was helping her students with disabilities build confidence in mathematics. Laura then obtained her certification in Special Education, and has been teaching Special Education Math at Atlas Middle School in Colorado Springs, CO, for the last 9 years, working with grades 5-8. Some of her favorite moments are when she can help her students visualize and represent mathematics using manipulatives, pictures, or real-life scenarios, helping them connect with and understand it on a deeper level. That's when magical math moments can really come to life!
Outside of school, Laura enjoys all things Colorado! Hiking, skiing, camping, and going to Red Rocks shows are where you can find her on the weekends, as well as spending time with her mini-Australian Shepherd, Breck. Laura is a passionate educator and looks forward to many more "aha" moments with her students as they discover that math is for everyone!

Return to CCTM February 2026 Newsletter