Cara Nicewarner

1. What school district and grade/s do you currently teach?  

I am currently a 6th grade, Science and History Special Education teacher in Frederick County Public Schools in Virginia.

2. What is one positive experience that you have had with a student?

One positive experience that I have had with a student was when a student that I had previously taught in sixth and seventh grade, who had a difficult time focusing, managing time and completing work in class, would come back to see me to tell me about the improvements he was making in each of those areas during his 8th grade year because of the strategies we had worked on together over the previous 2 years.  Over the course of his last year in middle school, he would be sure to share his successes with me and was excited to see what he could accomplish as he moved on. 

3. What advice would you give to current students who are enrolled in the teacher preparation program?   

My best advice to current students would be to always make sure you are making connections with the students in your classroom.  Ask them how they are doing or what they have coming up over the weekend.  Building positive relationships early on in the school year can be so valuable to your students and it truly is the small gestures that go a long way.  You never know which of your students will need those questions to know that you truly do care about them beyond what they are able to show you in the classroom. 

4. What do you love most about teaching?

What I love most about teaching is getting to see my students everyday, sharing in their excitement for learning or helping them find it throughout the year, and supporting them each day so that they have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.  When you are working with a student and they hit their "a-ha" moment, it's so great to see their smiles and the joy for learning come out. 

5. What makes a great teacher?

I think a great teacher is someone that takes the time to build positive relationships with their students.  It's maximizing the potential in the classroom while also letting your students know that you care about what is going on outside of those school walls.  I also think that a great teacher never stops learning.  Whether you are continuing your career path or seeking new and innovate teaching tools/strategies to use in your classroom, a great teacher never stops striving to find what will be best for their students.