Mrs. Graves has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Secondary Education with a minor in Psychology from Loras Catholic College in Dubuque, Iowa with the Hoager Award in excellence in foreign language.  During her time at Loras, she studied at the University of Quito in Quito, Ecuador.  She also studied at the Universidad de Compostela in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Her undergraduate thesis was on the topic of developing foreign language programs in elementary schools.
She earned a Master’s degree in Human Development Counseling from the University of Illinois.

Mrs. Graves has over 20 years of experience working in both public and Catholic schools as a teacher and school counselor.  She was the Diocesan crisis team coordinator for the Diocese of Phoenix for three years.  She is also a Nationally Certified Counselor.

Laura looks forward to serving as principal at Holy Family Academy.  As a product of Catholic schools, Mrs. Graves understands the value and importance of traditional Catholic values and educational excellence in young people.