By Pat Hammert/Staff Writer

When Racheal Lagueux was named teacher of the year at her grade school three years ago, her teaching philosophy was “Love them and let them know it.”

That hasn’t changed, she said.

“It’s very simple: I believe that all kids can learn. You love them and believe in them all along the way,” she said. The second-grade teacher has again been named teacher of the year at Hillcrest Elementary School, selected by her peers.

She started her teaching career as a pre-kindergarten teacher, helping to initiate the programs at Hillcrest and Lincoln schools. She then moved to fifth grade for three years, but felt the urge to get back to the younger ones and so moved to second grade.

“I guess I just wanted a change of pace. I wanted to try the little ones again. And I absolutely love it. I don’t know, there’s just something about second-graders. When they come to me, most of them can read and that’s what we really work on is reading and math.”

Lagueux was named teacher of the year at Hillcrest three years ago as a fifth-grade teacher. Other recognitions include Kiwanis Terrific Teacher and a classroom grant from El Reno Public Schools Foundation.

A graduate of El Reno High School, Lagueux attended Redlands Community College and was a teachers aide at Riverside School, east of El Reno. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of Central Oklahoma and holds an endorsement in early childhood development.

She is the daughter of John and Cathie Sales of El Reno and has two sisters. Her hobbies include cooking and spending time with “the love of my life,” her 2-year-old daughter, Haydn.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and always loved kids, always wanted to be a mom,” Lagueux said.