Laura Vogel

True crime fan Laura Vogel teaches algebra courses at Atlantic High School. She previously taught with the Riverside and Lonetree school districts. She is beginning her seventh year teaching. Vogel decided to become a math teacher in hopes that students would grow to enjoy the subject. “I wanted it to not be so painful for people,” she said. Some of her hobbies include walks and creating her own recipes.  

While studying at Iowa State, she joined the Students Helping Rescue Animals club. This led her to volunteer at the local shelter. She also attended all of her school’s football and basketball games. Occasionally in the fall, she’d even rush the field. 

She has completed two half-marathons, and has a one-year-old son, Gunnar.

Before deciding to become a teacher, Vogel’s future aspirations jumped around a lot. Sometimes she’d want to be a surgeon, despite her dislike of blood. Other times she’d think about being a criminal psychologist. She also considered going into into something with sports and marketing. When she zoned in on becoming a teacher, she decided to teach highschool, “hoping that I could make it a safe, welcoming place for students that don’t necessarily enjoy it.” So far her classes could be described as “structured chaos.” Despite this, she’s very impressed with the students so far. “Lots of fun personalities within the kids.”