Posted March 10, 2026 in Alumni Profile
Lawrence School, 2021
B.S.Ed Ashland University, 2025
We caught up with 2021 alum Alison Incanno, who is currently navigating her first year as an eighth-grade U.S. History teacher. Alison talked to us about how her own teachers at Lawrence inspired her to get into education, the self-advocacy skills that helped her through college, and what it’s like to now be the one at the front of the classroom.
What grade did you start Lawrence?
I actually started in the middle of third grade and stayed through fourth. I moved away to North Carolina for fifth and sixth grade, but I came back in seventh and stayed all the way through 12th.
Since graduating from Lawrence, what have you been up to?
I went to Ashland University, where I majored in Integrated Social Studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Right now, I’m living in Mansfield and teaching U.S. History to eighth graders! Moving to Mansfield was a bit of a surprise. I’m from Richfield and originally planned on living at home, but this opportunity came up, and I just went for it.
How is the school year going for you?
Since it’s my first year, it’s been a little rough at times! But I’m actually starting to figure out my classroom management and what really works for my students, so I’m very happy about that. I’ve also figured out my time management, so thankfully I don’t have to lesson plan quite as much as I did at the start. It’s a lot of work, but I’m getting there.
What was it about your experience at Lawrence that made you want to pursue teaching?
It was definitely the social studies teachers. They made history so easy to understand and made me really love the subject. I remember thinking, “I want to do what they did,” because they influenced me so much. It wasn’t just their encouragement, either—it was them making me do presentations and talk in front of the class. I realized, “Wow, I actually love talking to people about my interests.”
How do you feel Lawrence prepared you for the academic and social environment of college?
The biggest thing was advocacy. Lawrence was always pushing us to advocate for ourselves—to send those emails and make sure we got our accommodations. I didn’t even realize I was developing those skills until I got to college and thought, “Oh, I know how to email my professor.” Even today, I’m always emailing my principal! Because I pushed for my testing accommodations at Ashland, I was able to be successful and graduate with a 3.8 GPA.
Socially, being around so many different people and ideas at Lawrence made me really open-minded. I didn’t fear people’s quirks, which made it so much easier to make friends.
Do you find yourself passing those advocacy and life skills on to your own students?
Definitely. Every Thursday, I’m required to teach a life skill, so I focus on things like organization and time management. I’ll also talk to students about standing up for themselves. I think that’s what Lawrence was doing for me: just quiet, subtle teaching until eventually you’re old enough to realize you’ve figured it out.
As a teacher, do you use any multi-sensory or hands-on techniques you experienced at Lawrence?
Of course. I use a lot of color-coding and bolding letters in my presentations to make them easier to track. I also remember there being lots and lots of pictures in my social studies classes at Lawrence, so I make sure to include those, too. I try to keep things creative. My students just finished writing songs about the Boston Tea Party!
Do you ever talk to your students about your own middle and high school experience, and if so, how do you describe it to them?
The kids know I’m dyslexic. I don't fear talking about that at all. I describe [Lawrence] as a school that really pushes you to be successful through self-advocacy and time management. The fact that I’m here doing this alumni spotlight is proof that it works!
What advice would you give a current Lawrence senior who is nervous about heading off to college or starting their career?
That you have the skills to do it! You will be successful because those skills don’t go away. My advisor in college made it unbelievably difficult for me to graduate in four years, but I pushed myself and advocated for my needs, and I did it. Just be yourself. You already have the skills to be successful. And if you try something and it does’t work out, you can pursue something else, and you'll be fine doing that, too.
What were some of your favorite memories of Lawrence?
I took a cooking class in eighth grade that was wonderful. I actually kept pursuing cooking because of that. I also loved being in the National Honor Society and volunteering at the Akron Food Bank. Honestly, just being in the Commons was a favorite memory—being able to hang out with kids who weren’t in my grade made moving up to high school much less scary because you already knew everyone.
What do you miss most about Lawrence?
The community. It’s so tight-knit, and you know every single person. I miss having the teachers know you so well—knowing your family, your interests, and truly understanding you.
When you think of the word Lawrence, what is the first word or feeling that comes to mind?
I think of the color green and the art room. I took art every single year! Also, the phrase “Great Minds Don't Think Alike” is deeply ingrained in my brain. Whenever I hear someone say the other version, a little part of me dies inside!
What do you like to do in your free time to unwind?
I’m very family-oriented, so I love going home for the weekend to see my family and our three-year-old lab. My neighbor in Mansfield is actually my best friend from college, which was a total miracle, so we spend a lot of time together going to outdoor markets or local events. When the weather is nice, I love to get outside and hike, but honestly, I’m perfectly happy just staying on my couch and watching some reality TV or a show that isn’t too intense.
If you could go back and tell your high school self one thing about the future, what would it be?
That you’ll be fine. You get to do what you set out to do. I remember in middle school my goal was to have my own apartment and live by myself, and I made that happen. I wanted to be a teacher, and I made that happen. Your dreams do come true; you just have to work for them.