Laura graduated from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia in 1992 with a double major in History and Spanish and a minor in English.  After teaching high school Spanish for a year at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, TN, Laura earned her M.A. in the Romance Language Department at the University of Georgia, specializing in Linguistics.  At UGA, Laura taught Spanish 101 and Spanish 102 as a Teaching Assistant.   After obtaining her M.A. in Spanish from UGA in 1996, Laura lived in Santiago, Chile for five years, where she taught high school English at Andree English School as well as college-level English  (ESL) at La Universidad del Pacífico.  Laura served as the language coordinator and teacher trainer for Engintel, a language consulting company in Santiago.  Laura returned to the United States and later earned her teaching credentials from Georgia Southern University in 2001.  Laura began teaching Spanish at Oconee County High School in 2001.   Laura moved to North Oconee High School when it opened its doors in 2003.  Laura worked as an adjunct faculty member at Gainesville College, teaching Spanish 1001, 1002 and 2001, from Fall 2005 - Summer 2006.