Student Ditchers Have Laura Ogan to Deal With

When it comes to student tardiness and unexcused absences, Laura Ogan has heard every story in the book during her 13 years as Carlsbad High School’s Attendance Assistant. Among the most popular, she reveals, “Kids will call in pretending to be their parents. I pepper them with questions until they realize the game is up,” she says with a laugh. One of the 3,000 students who can’t try that ploy is her daughter Delainy, a freshman at . A mom of four who has worked as a juvenile hall probation officer and daycare provider and who continues to assist developmentally disabled adults, Laura believes, “My purpose in life is working with kids.” Her students and colleagues agree.

The gave Carlsbad Patch the following Q&A with Ogan:

We have to ask this: Did you ever ditch class when you were a student? I plead the Fifth!

What was your favorite class in school? I really liked the things we learned in Home Ed, such as sewing, cooking and life skills. I did well in algebra, too, but don’t ask me how to do fractions today.

What educator influenced you the most in your life? Joyce Kistler here at the high school. Until retirement, she taught Psychology and worked with peer advocates. She was a wise and insightful lady.

What was your first car? An orange Plymouth Cricket. It had the biggest steering wheel I’ve ever seen. My mom co-signed for me when I was 16. I think they made that model for only one year.

What is your favorite movie? “Brother Bear.” It’s a Disney movie. I watched a lot of Disney films when I ran a daycare.

Tell us something people may not know about you. I’m the creator of the O Towel. It’s a round towel with a grommet hole for the pole in the middle and a second hole on the perimeter so when you go to the beach, you can choose where you want your shade.      

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