Lauren Lawrence Swanson ’09

When Lauren Lawrence Swanson ’09 returned to Girls Preparatory School in 2020, it wasn’t part of a carefully mapped career plan. In fact, she had every intention of staying exactly where she was, teaching third grade in Hamilton County Schools and continuing on a leadership trajectory in public education.

But sometimes, purpose arrives quietly—and insistently.

When Kim Leffew, a former teacher of Lauren’s at GPS, reached out asking if she would consider mentoring students of color at GPS, what began as a conversation about volunteering quickly became something more. GPS knew it needed to grow in how it supported students’ sense of belonging, even if the exact path forward wasn’t yet clear. Lauren said yes—before there was even a clearly defined role—because the work aligned with a belief that has guided her since her own student days: education should be a place where every child can see themselves and know they belong.

“I knew I wanted to come back to GPS and be the person I needed when I was a student,” Lauren shared. “If I had seen someone like me here earlier, I think I would have realized my leadership potential sooner.”

From Student to Leader

As a GPS student, Lauren describes her experience as a positive one, rich with opportunity and access. Yet, with time and perspective, she came to recognize what was missing. While she had had strong friendships, she hadn’t had an adult mentor on campus who felt like her person—someone who deeply understood her lived experience as a Black student navigating an independent school environment.

That realization has shaped her work ever since.

As Director of Belonging and Community Engagement, Lauren helped create structures that support connection and identity development across campus. She founded student-led forums and designed advisory curriculum centered on social-emotional health, leadership, and integrity. Her goal was simple but profound: to ensure that every student feels seen, heard, valued, and known.

“I truly believe every kid has a right to belong,” she said. “I want students to enjoy coming to school and to believe that who they are—exactly as they are—is enough.”

Today, Lauren serves as Director of Student Life and Dean of Middle School for GPS. But despite her leadership role, her greatest joy comes from everyday moments of connection—when a student stops by her office for advice, help with an essay, or simply to be heard.

“No matter what my title is,” she said, “this work is really about building relationships.”

Living Legacy During Black History Month

For Lauren, Black History Month is both personal and joyful. Born in February herself, she speaks about the month with pride and with an understanding that Black history is not only something to remember, but something to live.

Her legacy at GPS is rooted in authenticity and representation. Early in her teaching career, Lauren felt pressure to conform to expectations about what professionalism looked like. Today, she shows up fully as herself—wearing her locs, her sneakers, and her confidence—while serving on the school’s senior leadership team.

“I hope students see that you can be exactly who you are and still lead,” she said. “Being authentic doesn’t disqualify you from excellence, it strengthens it.”

Through her collaboration with the Black Alumnae Council and her support of the Black Alumnae Endowed Scholarship Fund, Lauren continues to invest in opportunities for future generations of students, ensuring that GPS’s history and future reflect a broader, more inclusive story.

Looking Ahead

When asked what she hopes students, particularly students of color, take with them when they graduate from GPS, Lauren’s answer returns to the heart of her work: visibility, belonging, and authenticity.

She hopes they leave knowing they are worthy, capable, and deeply valued, not just for what they achieve, but for who they are.

As GPS celebrates Black History Month, Lauren Lawrence Swanson ’09 stands as a reminder that history is not only something we honor—it is something we build, every day, through presence, courage, and care.