Alisha Caruso, Lower School Technology

 

I have a younger sister and three younger cousins, and when we were growing up we all lived on a big farm. I remember always being the teacher when we played, and the more we did it, the more I thought, “I really like being a teacher.” I also worked with my youth group and babysat, and the more I worked with kids, the more I realized that’s what I wanted to do in the future. So I went to Towson to get my degree in education, and now, here I am.

 

 

I love that they’re excited about everything, no matter what I’m teaching. Seeing that sense of wonder and excitement is so much fun.

 

 

I want to encourage risk taking, which really fits in well with this curriculum. I also like projects where they can collaborate but still have the choice of how they want to approach it, because not everyone likes to collaborate on an entire project. In life you have to collaborate with other people, so I think that’s an important skill for them to learn now.

 

 

My first day of teaching ever was at an elementary school in Baltimore County, and it was very hectic – I thought I was going to be teaching fourth grade, and then I ended up teaching kindergarten. So even as the kids were coming in I was flipping desks and trying to find chairs that fit them – it was crazy. My first day here at Bryn Mawr was wonderful. Everyone was so welcoming – it was a great environment.

 

 

A volleyball (possibly named Wilson), a solar-powered 3D printer so I could make anything I needed, and my sunglasses – although I guess I could 3D print a pair of those too.

 

 

Probably my laptop – I couldn’t survive without it, because everything I teach is on there! And definitely coffee.

 

First of all, I think the all-girls classroom is really important. I feel like the girls are more comfortable in an all-girls setting and more open to taking risks. I also feel like the faculty here is really well supported. If something’s not working or we don’t have a piece of equipment, someone is always there to help, because they recognize that this is what the girls need for their education.

Bryn Mawr in three words:

Inspiring, innovative and supportive.