About Laura
Laura Barbería is a first-grade teacher at Thomas Hooker School in Meriden, CT, where she is proud to serve a diverse and vibrant community of young learners. Originally from Spain, Barbería came to the United States at 17 to pursue her dream of becoming an educator while playing collegiate soccer. She graduated with a bilingual education degree along with a master’s in TESOL from SCSU and is currently doing her 092 certification at CCSU.
Barbería is passionate about creating engaging and meaningful learning environments where every child feels seen, confident, and motivated to learn. She leads the K-Kids afterschool program to help elementary students develop a passion for service, leadership, and collaboration while improving their school and community.
As a bilingual educator, she is deeply committed to uplifting multilingual learners, building strong and trusting relationships with families, and advocating for equitable opportunities so that every student has the chance to thrive. Through a Fund for Teachers fellowship, Barbería traveled to Colombia and Peru to deepen her understanding of her students’ cultural backgrounds and bring that knowledge back to her classroom. She is known for her creativity, warmth, and unwavering belief in her students, and she continually seeks new ways to empower every learner to thrive.
