As she makes her way to Landstown High School, Mrs. Lauren Baus stops at Starbucks and orders her go-to drink, a venti brown sugar shaken espresso to start off her day.
Mrs. Baus, a world history and geography part one teacher, grew up here in Virginia Beach where she graduated from Princess Anne High School.
Before her journey as an Eagle, she followed her passion for European history in the late 1900’s. Further on, she applied that passion into getting an undergraduate and graduate degree at James Madison University.
She had several beneficial impacts from her teachers in the past that made her become a teacher herself. She said, “I think that I had really positive influences on me as a student from teachers and I can recognize how those influences impacted my future and my choices. And so I know that not everybody has that blessing and I wanted to be that for other people.”
Mrs. Baus teaches her students the importance of understanding the past and why things happen, so upcoming generations can make better choices in the future.
She enjoys teaching ninth graders because she likes seeing their growth and what her influence can do to them when they turn into adults.
“Ninth graders, you can make a really large impact on their high school experience and they have a lot of growth to do and it’s awesome to be able to have something to do with that growth versus seniors is awesome and being so close to the next choices that they make in their life,” she said.
Next door to Mrs. Baus is Mr. Sendzik, also a world history and geography teacher, who always hangs around her and her jolly aura.
They collaborate together at the school for the formation of fun activities for the class of 2027 such as the recent ring dance, the baking sale, where they sold cookies and brownies at football games, and the stylish homecoming hallways.
Mr. Sendzik uses Mrs. Baus’s slideshows as an inspiration while he teaches his classes, though his teaching style is different. He incorporates jokes to get his class ready to go and learn.
“Well, her and I are a little different because I put memes in mine. I like her morning slides, the opening move slide is just straight gas, fire. It’s so nice. It’s so good. And it really gets the day started for class and you get to learn,” he said.
Along with Mrs. Baus’s slideshows, her style of teaching gets her students to be active and thinking. Giselle Lopez, a freshman here at Landstown High, actively participates in her activities that Mrs. Baus has to offer.
Before any test, Mrs. Baus has thrilling games that get her students prepped. So far, her students have played Battleship, Hot Seat, Jeopardy, and “Trash-ket ball.” Lopez cherishes Jeopardy because she “finds it interesting, challenging, and fun.”
Lopez also likes the nonstop chatter around the classroom and how everyone is closely connected. “My favorite thing about our class is having a good relationship with my peers and my teacher. For example, sitting with my friends and reviewing and studying and playing with the chickens with Mrs. Baus,” she said.
Charlotte Simons, also a freshman in Baus’s class, enjoys the loud laughter floating around the room. “My favorite thing about our class is definitely the chatter around the class, like how it’s always so loud,” she added.
To the upcoming freshman who may have Mrs. Baus for world history and geography part one in the future, people around her offer positive hope:
“She is a very special teacher to have and she will teach you in ways that our generation can actually understand, and she has a great impact on the way she teaches and she’s very well-spoken. You’ll have a great relationship with her,” Lopez stated.
“Listen to her. That’s a major thing is just kind of listen to her and make sure to participate,” Simons said.
“Dang, you got lucky. I would say you got the better teacher,” Senzik said.
