Michelle Lalor (1st grade) hails from Atlanta, Georgia where she taught kindergarten for two years at Oakley Elementary. She is originally from Ireland, and before coming to the United States, taught 3rd grade for two years and a 4th–6th grade class for a year. Michelle graduated from University College Cork with a B.A. in English Literature and Sociology. In London, she completed 18 months of voluntary service, which involved teaching a multi-ethnic group in South London. Later in Greece, she worked with Waterhoppers Diving School training first-time divers. She enjoyed her teaching experiences in Greece and London so much that she decided to pursue a fulltime career in teaching and graduated in 2004 from University College Dublin in Elementary Education.

Michelle has certificates in dance, foundation counseling skills, and teaching English as a foreign language. She loves music; she has vocal training from the Limerick School of Music, and likes to bring musical influence into the classroom. One of her prior classes performed a children’s opera with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, and another performed with the National Children’s Choir of Ireland. Michelle is excited to be part of the ELA team.