09/29/2026
Congratulations to Alicia Carson, our Living Our Values Award winner for Adaptability! 👏
Alicia’s flexibility, resilience, and commitment to students, colleagues, and school partners are a strong reflection of what it means to live out Laurel Life’s core value of Adaptability. We are proud to recognize her and share the nomination submitted on her behalf:
We are honored to nominate Alicia Carson for the Living Our Values Award in recognition of her exceptional embodiment of Laurel Life's core value of Adaptability.
Since joining Laurel Life in 2017, Alicia has consistently demonstrated a willingness to embrace change, take on new challenges, and focus on solutions that best support students, staff, and school partners. She began her journey under the Transition Model, where she supported numerous teachers and behavior coaches while helping students navigate complex educational and behavioral needs. Throughout that time, Alicia built strong relationships and established herself as a dependable and flexible team member.
Alicia's adaptability became even more apparent when she agreed to move into a hybrid model with a new school district. Working within a middle school program alongside district staff and a newly formed Laurel Life team, Alicia stepped into a leadership role and helped develop the therapeutic component of the program from the ground up. She served as the team leader, fostered strong partnerships between district and Laurel Life staff, and helped create a supportive environment that benefited both students and colleagues. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Alicia consistently demonstrates genuine care for others. When a team member needed assistance after having their wisdom teeth removed, Alicia willingly gave her personal time to ensure they had a safe ride home and the support they needed.
When circumstances outside of her control brought an end to her position within that district, Alicia once again embraced change and transitioned into a School-Based Therapist role within Integrated Support Services. She entered the position during a significant restructuring of therapeutic services, requiring her to split time between a middle school and high school. Rather than allowing uncertainty or logistical challenges to hinder her work, Alicia remained focused on meeting student needs. At the high school, where securing a dedicated workspace proved difficult, she spent the entire year moving between classrooms and offices to provide consistent therapeutic support. She adapted to each situation with professionalism, creativity, and determination.
As another school year begins, Alicia continues to face new challenges, including limited office space, schedule changes, and the many demands that naturally accompany a new academic year. Yet, her response remains the same. Alicia approaches obstacles as opportunities to problem-solve. She does not dwell on setbacks or resist change. Instead, she seeks solutions, collaborates with others, and remains unwavering in her commitment to serving students.
Alicia's ability to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining a positive attitude and steadfast focus on student success makes her an outstanding example of this core value. Her resilience, flexibility, and dedication have positively impacted countless students, colleagues, and school partners over the years. Alicia consistently demonstrates that adaptability is not simply responding to change, but embracing it with grace, determination, and a commitment to excellence.
For these reasons, we are proud to nominate Alicia Carson for the Living Our Values Award in Adaptability.
Congratulations, Alicia! 💚
