Lauren Heinrich is a math teacher at Oak Park High School who teaches both Algebra I and II in her F-building classroom. Whether you see her at school or running on the local Oak Park trails, she always has a smile on her face. 

“This is my fourteenth year and this is my first job,” Heinrich said. “I went to San Diego State University and Cal Lutheran University for my teaching credentials.”

Although Heinrich has taught at Oak Park since the beginning of her career, she hasn’t always lived in California. 

“I grew up in the Western suburbs of Chicago, similar to Oak Park,” Heinrich said. “I majored in math in college, and I was unsure what to do with it. I really liked working with kids, and I was a swim coach growing up, so it worked out that way.” 

Off campus, Heinrich enjoys spending time and doing activities with her family.

“In my free time, I’m either spending time with my girls or running. We love to go to the beach as a family, and we pretty much live at the pool,” Heinrich said.

When the bell rings for lunch or nutrition, you’ll find a large group of students entering Heinrich’s hallway as her classroom is a familiar space for many students on campus. 

“I try my best to make math as fun as it can be, and I hope that people feel safe and comfortable in my classroom,” Heinrich said. 

Heinrich is a very approachable teacher, and she also enjoys the environment at OPHS.

“I really just enjoy getting to know everybody, talking with students about extracurricular activities, trying to attend games or plays and seeing people start to understand math and enjoying it,” Heinrich said. “Seeing light bulb moments is really fun to see those moments for people and seeing them understand it in a different way.” 

With the smiles and laughs as she collaborates with her students, you’ll find productivity as well.

“One piece of advice that I would give to a student is not to procrastinate and keep trying if it doesn’t make sense the first time,” Heinrich said.