By Margaret Hodson ’16, Perspectives Section Editor

Mrs. Laura Christiansen comes to Country Day from Gill, Massachusetts, where she and her husband taught at Northfield Mount Hermon, a boarding school, for 13 years. Her two young children now attend Country Day and her husband, Mr. John Christiansen, is the new Upper School math teacher. Mrs. Christiansen will be working part-time for the science department, teaching one section of 10th grade biology. She describes her teaching style as “laid back,” preferring a more relaxed classroom environment, provided that students get their work done. Previous students have described her as someone who is willing to help. Mrs. Christiansen added, “I’m definitely someone who is around. If [students] have problems or concerns, I would do whatever I can to help.” One of her classroom pet peeves is the failure to label graphs, especially the axes. If she could teach any one class for the rest of her life, it would be environmental science, including how humans have affected the earth and ecosystems. Her master’s degree is from Antioch University in New Hampshire, where she studied environmental science with a specialty in environmental education. Citing a love of nature from an early age, she noted, “My father was the director of a land preservation organization in Iowa. For me, it was just something I was exposed to from the time I was so little—that love of the outdoors and that love of nature.” Although she greatly enjoys the outdoors, she is also excited to begin exploring the vibrant urban culture of Cincinnati. As she gets to know her new city, she hopes to do the same for the Country Day community.