Meet New 4th Grade Special Education Teacher Mrs. D!

posted September 28, 2026

Laura DePrizio joins us this year to teach 4th grade special education. Mrs. D has been teaching for thirty-six years and we are so excited to have her on our team this year. We asked her some questions so you could get to know her a bit before the school year begins. 

Why did you want to teach at Cardinal?
Actually, Cardinal Schools caught my attention on FUBO TV.  The ads that played during my husband's beloved Cubs games gave me the idea that working at Cardinal would be pretty amazing.  The teachers who were interviewed were so passionate, I wanted to be a part of that!

What do you like about teaching special education?
I have always taught special education. When I was still in high school, I worked for a special education preschool and I fell in love with teaching littles who needed extra help to succeed.

What is your favorite part of teaching?
I would say that my favorite part of teaching is building relationships with my students and helping them gain skills that they were struggling with before.  When a student finally connects the dots and gets excited about learning, that is my favorite.

What is your ultimate goal as a teacher?
My ultimate goal as a teacher is to provide my students with a safe, welcoming space and help them grow in their skills to reach their full potential. I want them to feel loved and safe at school.

What do you hope students take away from your class this year?
I hope that they know their teacher cared about them and helped them.

Fun Facts/Hobbies:
I love thrifting and searching for books for my students. I also dabble with crochet and sewing. My husband and I like to travel. We also really enjoy live theater and music performances (drum corps and concerts/jazz bands). I have two dogs and two cats who are spoiled beyond belief.