Lauren Gunn

Hello! My name is Ms. Lauren, and here is a little bit about me.

I grew up in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, in a little ski resort town known as Mammoth Lakes. I was very involved in band (playing the piano, drums, & saxophone), in choir, and in musical theater- and I was proud of being the lead female role of “How to Succeed in Business” during my senior year. 

Then, I went to college at University of California Irvine. I majored in Gender Studies and Global Cultures, with an emphasis in Latino cultures. I really enjoyed learning about the values of multiple cultures and being accepting of differences. I minored in Education and pursued working with all ages of kids and young adults. I was married in 2006 to my high school sweetheart, and this year we will be celebrating our 18th anniversary!

After college in 2007, we moved to Colorado. I wanted to take a year before getting my teaching credential, so I decided to apply as an instructional aide, and this is when I first began working at Renaissance. The following year, I got my combined Teaching License and Masters in Education from Denver University. I was welcomed back as a classroom teacher at Renaissance, first in 5th grade, third grade, and then Kindergarten. I have absolutely loved my time in Kindergarten; however, I am excited to return to 3rd grade.

In 2017, I stayed home for 4 years, raising my twins Charlotte and Tobias. They were born extremely early, and I consider them to be my miracle twins. It is a dream come true to have them attending Renaissance, at a school that I love so much; this year as 2nd graders.

When not teaching or chasing twins, I love mountain biking. It has been fun that my husband and I share a love of biking, so we have been able to bike in beautiful destinations such as Crested Butte, Moab, and Whistler, Canada. We love to travel, explore, and eat! Last summer, I discovered a new passion: paddle boarding! It brings me so much joy to spend the day at the lake. My kids love it too, and it is a wonderful way to spend time together outside. I have enjoyed doing off-road sprint triathlons, which include paddle boarding, mountain biking, and trail running. 

This will be my 12th year teaching at Renaissance. Renaissance has such an incredible way of nurturing empathy, critical thinking, and curiosity to empower learners to be kind, active citizens who understand the meaning of CREW. Through expeditionary learning, students are encouraged to ask questions and dig deeper rather than be assigned generic memorization tasks. Through adventure education, kids become better versions of themselves through taking risks, stepping outside comfort zones, facing adversity with grace, and learning to work as a team. When listening to 6th graders and Renaissance alumni speak, I am always in awe of how deeply they know themselves, their heart for the world around them, and their rich sense of purpose. WOW. I truly believe that this is the BEST model of education, and it is a true honor to be part of these students’ journeys. They are going to change the world. WE ARE CREW!