At 7:30 a.m. each morning, before the students arrive, the Lower School floor is quiet.

The hallways are still. Classroom lights flicker on. Teachers settle into their routines before the energy of the day begins; some slip down to the student center to get a coffee and greet colleagues, before readying their rooms for the day ahead. Then, gradually, the students arrive. Voices fill the hallways. Lessons commence. Laughter echoes from classroom to classroom.

For Lower School faculty member Laura Hale, that daily transformation has never lost its magic.

“It’s energetic,” she said.

For 30 years, Mrs. Hale has been one of those teachers welcoming that joyful energy each morning. Since joining the Lower School in 1996, she has taught generations of students, most notably in Class I and Class II, helping young learners take some of the most important first steps in their educational journeys. She has taught Nighthawks to read, guided them through moments of self-discovery, encouraged them through challenges, and helped them build confidence in themselves and their abilities. Along the way, she has also become a trusted colleague, mentor, curriculum innovator, and beloved member of the Nightingale community.

Mrs. Hale’s connection to Nightingale actually began before she ever stepped into a classroom as a teacher. Her mother and aunt both attended the school years earlier, creating a family connection that would eventually help bring her to East 92nd Street. After studying history in college, volunteering in after-school programs, working as a camp counselor, and later earning a master’s degree in teaching, Mrs. Hale knew she had found her calling—gravitating toward the youngest learners.

“I’ve always just been drawn to the little people,” she explained. “They’re so bright and curious and eager, and they come running up these stairs every day. It’s such a concrete [experience]. In the first grade, they don’t quite know how to read yet but, by the end of the year, they’re reading—and it’s so tangible to me. And they’re just so into it; they’re excited to be here.”

It was that curiosity that continued to inspire her for three decades, in addition to their honesty. Lower School students, she added, often have a willingness to ask questions, explore new ideas, and approach each day with enthusiasm.

“Their excitement is contagious,” she said, with a smile.

Her Bread and Butter

More than anything, she loves watching them discover what they are capable of accomplishing—and that they can do hard things. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in reading instruction, which has been at the heart of her work throughout her career. Ask Mrs. Hale what she is proudest of professionally, and her answer is remarkably simple: teaching children how to read. Her “bread and butter,” as she described it.

Over the years, educational trends have evolved just as classrooms have transformed. Yet, Mrs. Hale’s passion for helping children unlock the world of reading has remained constant. She still delights in the tangible growth that takes place during a single school year. Oftentimes, Mrs. Hale would teach students who didn’t know how to read at the beginning of the school year. But, by the end, they are able to read—confidently.

For hundreds of Nightingale students, Mrs. Hale was among the first people to help them understand how letters become words, words become stories, and stories become lifelong companions. She introduced generations of children to phonics, decoding, and the confidence that comes from realizing they can read independently. It may not always be the most visible work, but it is foundational—and few things have brought her greater satisfaction.

The lessons Mrs. Hale taught, however, extended far beyond literacy.

Throughout her career, she worked to create classrooms where students felt valued, respected, and supported. One of the beliefs

she returned to again and again was the importance of embracing mistakes—not fearing them. That philosophy shaped the culture of her classroom. Students were encouraged to take risks, try new things, and persevere when challenges arose. Mrs. Hale wanted students to understand that learning is not about getting everything right the first time, it is about growth.

Her commitment to helping children develop a strong sense of self also influenced her work beyond the classroom. In the 2000s, she developed a first-grade self-esteem unit that encouraged students to celebrate their individuality and appreciate the differences among their classmates. Through books, discussions, and projects, students explored identity, family, and belonging.

That same spirit informed her work developing a social studies curriculum focused on global cultures, particularly studies of Japan and Mexico. Long before many schools embraced global education in the ways they do today,

Mrs. Hale worked to create opportunities for students to engage thoughtfully with traditions, customs, and ways of life beyond their own experiences. Her efforts helped establish traditions that continue in the Lower School today, including experiences connected to Japanese tea ceremony and cultural study.

Care for Colleagues

Just as important as her work with students has been her role within the faculty community. Over 30 years,

Mrs. Hale has served on countless committees, contributed to curriculum development initiatives, and become a source of wisdom and support for colleagues across divisions.

She speaks with particular pride about mentoring younger teachers and being someone others could turn to during challenging moments.

“I’ve really enjoyed being an unofficial mentor to younger colleagues; listening to them, imparting my wisdom,”

Mrs. Hale said. “That has meant a lot to me over the years, being there for colleagues when they’re having a rough day, being a good listener.”

Her generosity has extended beyond formal responsibilities. Whether covering for a colleague, helping a student in the hallway, or simply offering a listening ear, Mrs. Hale has built a reputation for showing up when people need her. The relationships she has formed with colleagues are among the aspects of Nightingale she treasures most. Over the years, coworkers became close friends and trusted confidants in both teaching and life. As a working parent herself, she found tremendous support among fellow faculty members who shared similar experiences and challenges. Each of those moments, no matter how long or brief, was meaningful to her. Whether it was a passing ‘good morning’ while getting coffee or sharing laughter over lunch in the student center with colleagues across divisions, Mrs. Hale cherished those moments significantly.

Similar to her students, Mrs. Hale, too, grew up at Nightingale. She arrived at Nightingale in her twenties. She got married while teaching

at Nightingale. She raised her children while teaching at Nightingale. And the community celebrated those milestones alongside her. She fondly recalls first-grade families throwing her a bridal shower and, later, a baby shower.

As she looks back, what emerges most clearly is a deep appreciation for the community that has surrounded her throughout her life and career. That sense of connection is perhaps most visible during commencement each year. As Mrs. Hale watches seniors cross the stage, she often finds herself paging through the program and recognizing names, thinking to herself ‘Oh, I taught her. I taught her. I taught her first grade!”

For Mrs. Hale, watching those young children grow into confident graduates has been one of the great privileges of her career.

What’s Next for Mrs. Hale

Now, after three decades, Mrs. Hale is preparing for a new chapter: retirement.

While she looks forward to opportunities to relax, travel, and enjoy a different pace of life, Mrs. Hale reflected on her departure as bittersweet. She joked that she may eventually find herself working in a preschool because, after all, children have always been at the center of her world. Yet even as she looks forward, she knows there are aspects of Nightingale she will miss deeply: the daily interactions, the friendships, the spontaneous conversations, and the joyful energy that has greeted her each morning for 30 years.

For generations of Nightingale students, Laura Hale was one of the first teachers to show them that they could read, that they could persevere, and that mistakes were not failures but opportunities to learn. She helped young children discover confidence in themselves and curiosity about the world around them. She did so with patience, warmth, humor, and an enduring belief in the potential of every child who walked through her classroom door.

And while her time at Nightingale may be coming to a close, the impact of those lessons—and the joy with which she taught them—will continue to resonate for years to come.