- Columbia Elementary School
- Meet the Teacher

Phone: (256) 430-2751
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Mrs. Victoria Lakso
Hello! My name is Vic Lakso. I have lived in Madison for about 14 years and I love it! This is my fifth year teaching 3rd grade here at CES. I have been married for 15 years and we have two daughters; Emma is in 9th grade and Sophie is in 6th grade. I was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. We lived there until I was 3 years old. I grew up south of Boston, Massachusetts. I received an Associates Degree in Travel and Tourism Management from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island in 2003. After that, I enlisted in the United States Air Force where I was trained to speak Mandarin Chinese as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist. When my family settled in Madison, I began substitute teaching and proctoring the ACTs and SATs. I was able to go back to school to get my Bachelors in Elementary Education, summa cum laude. I am so thrilled to be a teacher! We are a family here at Columbia!
I have a passion for travel, foreign languages, foreign cultures and working with children, helping them foster a love of lifelong learning. I took 6 years of French, 2 years of Spanish, 1 year of Italian and, of course, Mandarin from the Air Force. I know phrases from many other languages, including Norwegian, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and German. I consider it my goal to learn "hello" and "thank you" in as many languages as I can. My minor in educational technology has fostered a growing desire to incorporate global collaboration in my classroom, allowing my students to interact with and learn from other students from all over the country and world. I believe this helps children to develop a respect for and understanding of cultural diversity.
In my free time, I love to crochet. I had a small business crocheting personalized items from baby loveys and amigurumi stuffed animals to large afghans. I donated many infant hats to hospitals for newborns and preemies and memorial photos. I also love to read and spend as much time as I can with my daughters and my husband and cuddling with my Irish Water Spaniel, Siggi.
I know we are going to have an amazing year!
#GladToBeHere
#AstroStrong
"Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn."
~Benjamin Franklin