果酱视频

by Efe Tanci

If we define education as an eternal relay race, Nicole McEwan Caradonna 鈥�09 is among the leaders, a passionate teacher who continues to take firm steps forward and inspire others along the way.

Caradonna earned a and she . She is a visual art teacher in , educating elementary to high school students.

In 2009, Caradonna applied for a leave replacement position in the district that would begin just after her graduation. Caradonna took the job to get into the profession.

鈥淚t is very tough,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was very fortunate to get the job on my first interview.

鈥淭he director of art had said that the way my r茅sum茅 looked was the reason he called me.鈥�

After a short time, she was asked to make a demonstration lesson. It resulted in a full-time position. And she has since begun to give back to her alma mater.

This year, Caradonna has been mentoring Meghan Cerrone, a student from 果酱视频鈥檚 B.F.A program, who attends Caradonna鈥檚 class to observe. Cerrone will be a student teacher there this spring.

鈥淭he experience has been great so far,鈥� Caradonna said. 鈥淚 had a really great experience when I was observing and student teaching, so it feels good to give that experience back to another aspiring educator.鈥�

Caradonna鈥檚 motivation inspired the prospective teacher.

鈥淚 am truly blessed that I am working alongside Nicole Caradonna during my experience,鈥� Cerrone said. 鈥淚n her classroom, I have witnessed students grow creatively and succeed.鈥� She said Caradonna has inspired her to follow her passion for creating art and how 鈥渢he impact you make on just one student could help them find their [passion].鈥�

Caradonna鈥檚 success relies on her communication and relationship with children as a teacher. She credits the dedicated faculty of 鈥攕uch as Associate Professor Jennifer Maloney鈥攚ho inspired her.

鈥淚 found myself quoting her all the time in my classroom, passing on things that she said to me to my kids,鈥� Caradonna said.

鈥淚n the class, I feel like I am doing stand-up comedy,鈥� she continued. 鈥淭echnique would be finding a way to explain things in a way that the kids feel connected to. I use their language. I call a portrait a selfie. That is what makes them want to do it more.鈥�