In 2014 Laurie McCracken (Mercado) was in a school that chose to focus on The Accelerated Reader Program. This program was a points-based rewards system designed to enhance the reading proficiency of all students. This particular school had recently earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate title and was looking to certify that it was one of the very best schools in the district. The principal challenged every teacher, and in turn every student to do their absolute best in this school wide competition that pitted classroom against classroom in a race to achieve preset goals that were assesed using each classroom’s beginning of the year benchmarks. Laurie worked very hard with her students who ultimately far exceeded their classroom goal.