There were smiles, cheers, and a few tears, when Aurora’s longest-serving teacher was feted.
Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin joined the students and staff members of Holy Angels School to bid farewell to Laura Waegner, 79, who has taught at the school for the past 54 years. Her first year teaching was 1969 at neighboring St. Rita School in Aurora.
Mayor Irvin proclaimed today, Friday, May 17, as Laura Waegner Day in Aurora, to honor her 55 years of educating Aurora youth.
Mayor Irvin further surprised her with the announcement that the 700 block of Kensington Place – where Holy Angels School is located – will be renamed Laura Waegner Way.
A special street naming ceremony will be held in the fall as the 2024-2025 school year begins.
Waegner, a teacher at Holy Angels School since 1970, has taught at the school for 54 years after teaching her initial year at St. Rita School in Aurora. She has taught middle school studies for most of her career at Holy Angels.
Known as an “institution” at the school, Waegner has taught the grandchildren of students she had back when she first started more than half a century ago.
After she makes time some time to rest this summer, she plans to be a volunteer this fall at a local non-profit teaching English to Spanish-speakers.
— City of Aurora government