Karen Lauritzen is a fourth-grade teacher at Treaty Rock Elementary School in Post Falls, Idaho.

In 2002, Lauritzen earned a Bachelor of Education in elementary education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In 2018, she earned a Master of Arts in special education with an emphasis on autism and developmental disabilities from Ball State University. In May of 2023, Lauritzen plans to graduate from the University of Idaho at Moscow with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.

Lauritzen was awarded the University of Alaska Fairbanks Student of the Year Award in 2002 and earned academic honors with each of her degrees. For her dissertation, she focuses on educators’ perceptions of advocacy for the education profession. One of her three papers is currently under review in a peer-reviewed journal. In 2022, Lauritzen was chosen as a National Education Association Foundation Global Learning fellow, and in 2023 will travel to South Africa to study global education and competence.

Lauritzen is co-president of the Post Falls Education Association and serves on the Idaho Education Association’s Political Action Committee for Education/Government Relations Committee. She is a founding member of Citizens for Post Falls Schools.

Lauritzen is passionate about giving students choices in learning. She supports global competence and helps students investigate their world, recognize various perspectives, communicate innovative ideas and take action. Lauritzen believes in the power of building relationships between students, families, staff, communities and legislators to make education better for everyone.