Laurel Fischer, our founding Assistant Head of the Lower School, grew up in California and received her undergraduate degree from St. Johns. She has previously worked at other Great Hearts Academies in Arizona as an apprentice teacher, middle school teacher, second grade teacher, and online teacher, as well as a curriculum writer and literacy team member at the Great Hearts lead office in Arizona.

An experienced Great Hearts staff member, Laurel was excited to bring this model to Louisiana to help create an option for free, classical education in her own city, which has limited options for families. “The children of Baton Rouge deserve an education that meets them where they are at and takes them as far as they can go. Our intervention program does exactly that!”

Her favorite thing about this role is working with the teachers to help them toward their goals and development.

As an Assistant Head of the Lower School, Laurel supports teachers with their student growth goals and curricular implementation. She observes them, helps create plans for intervention and EL students, and helps guide them toward the best ways to connect their students with the great ideas of the past.

At Great Hearts Harveston, Jasmine Theyard is making her mark as the Manager of Campus Operations. “I was drawn to the school’s core values of being a passionately committed team player with a servant’s heart,” she shared.

She thrives behind the scenes, overseeing and optimizing the systems that keep the school running smoothly. “I thrive on problem-solving, whether it’s streamlining processes, improving collaboration, or implementing new strategies to meet our goals,” said Theyard. “It is exciting for me to see the tangible results from our efforts to create the best learning and working environment.”

Academically, Theyard is highly accomplished, holding a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is also a provisional Certified Family Life Educator, reflecting her dedication to promoting growth and development in the communities she serves. With over a decade of experience in Operations, including her role as Director of Academic Operations at a local Baton Rouge high school, Theyard brings a wealth of knowledge and a knack for problem-solving to her work.

Theyard grew up in the vibrant New Orleans, Louisiana area, surrounded by the rich culture and traditions of her hometown, Marrero. A true Louisianian at heart, she temporarily moved to Baton Rouge for her undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University and has now been back in the city for about six years. Baton Rouge feels just right for Theyard. She said it’s close to home, carries a similar cultural charm, and offers a sense of community without being overwhelming.

She has been married to her husband, Ricky Jr., for a little over a year. Her family also includes two four-legged friends, a golden doodle named Gerber and a yorkie poodle named Sophie, who keep her company during cozy movie nights. As an avid reader, she enjoys diving into thriller and romance novels, as well as unwinding at the gym and exploring favorite local restaurants like Roux 61 in Baton Rouge and Felipe’s Taqueria located in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

In addition to her fulfilling work life and satisfying home life, Theyard said she secretly (well, not so secretly now) enjoys being a swim instructor during the summer months, combining her love for teaching with the joy of helping others learn a life-saving skill. And if that isn’t enough, she also finds time to work part-time in Game Experience for the New Orleans Saints.

Theyard said she is proud to be part of the Great Hearts community and is excited about the journey ahead, contributing to the success of students and staff alike. “The focus on developing the soul, heart, and mind of each student aligns with my own mission to help shape well-rounded, compassionate members of this community.”

Meet our Reading Interventionist, Mrs. Daglow! Mrs. Daglow began her teaching career at Great Hearts North Phoenix in 2018 while she simultaneously earned her master’s degree in education at Arizona State University.

Upon the development of Great Hearts Harveston, Daglow traveled to Baton Rouge to meet the Harveston team that Mr. Heisman was building and was immediately convinced that it would be a force for good in the community. She and her family moved to Baton Rouge in June of 2023 to help bring a high-quality, classical education to our city.

As a reading interventionist, Daglow helps students build the skills they need to become successful readers!

“Reading is arguably the most important thing a student will ever learn, and it is an honor to be a part of teaching students first to decode, then to understand, and finally to love books,” she says.

Daglow’s favorite memory thus far is with one of her first-grade scholars, who was unable to read at a beginning-of-Kindergarten level. Because of their consistent, hard work together over the course of many weeks, he developed the skills to read sounds, then individual words, and eventually entire sentences.

“One day, he opened his book and read easily to me from the page. Tears sprang to my eyes, and my heart was full of gratitude for all he had accomplished. He had been very capable from the beginning, of course; all he had needed were the right tools and a little support.”