SHE HELPED KIDS, PARENTS EDUCATOR LAURA SANDERS REMEMBERED FOR COMPASSION.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - During 15 years as an educator, Laura Sanders dedicated herself to securing a better future for children, their parents and other teachers in the classroom.

Sanders, of Saugus, died Oct. 10 at age 37 after a five-month battle with leukemia. She taught for 11 years, mostly kindergarten classes at Newhall Elementary School, and was a vice principal at Peachland and Valencia Valley Elementary schools in Newhall at the time of her death.

She also was a former mentor teacher and a past president of the Newhall Teachers Association.

``She had a gift and patience for teaching kindergarten. But she didn't teach just the child. She worked to support a student's whole family,'' said friend Lisa Kennedy, a sixth-grade teacher at Valencia Valley Elementary School.

``She cared so deeply for her students. That was her mission in life.''

Sanders helped secure grants for several programs at Newhall Elementary, including Healthy Start, which helps low-income families obtain medical, dental and social services, and Even Start, a family literacy program.

``Laura was someone we all wanted to be like. She always saw the good in people and she never said bad things about anyone,'' Kennedy said.

``She gave you all her attention when you were talking with her. She made you feel like you were the most important person in that moment,'' Kennedy said, ``She was a great listener. She had a great smile. Everyone always remarked on her smile. She was my best friend.''

Scott McCall remembered his sister's gift for understanding and reining in kids under her care. And although she loved teaching, McCall said Sanders' legacy will be that she wanted to help parents be better caretakers.

``She was a great caring and compassionate person,'' said McCall. ``She was always there for everybody. She was a happy person who always worried about everybody else but not herself.''

Laura Ann McCall was born on July 16, 1967, in Detroit, and she grew up in Birmingham, Mich. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, then moved to California, where she began her teaching career.

Sanders' leisure interests included scrapbooking, watching movies and caring for her three cats.

Sanders is survived by her children, Sara and Jonathon; her parents, Lynn Ashton and Jack McCall; and a brother, Scott McCall.

A funeral was held Wednesday at St. Stephen Church in Santa Clarita. Her ashes were interred during a committal service Friday in the church's Remembrance Garden.

Memorial donations may be made to scholarship funds being set up for her children by St. Stephen Church, 24901 Orchard Village Road, Santa Clarita 91355.

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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