Faculty Friday: Stacy Caro - Middle School French/English Immersion
"The quote, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited,” expresses my teaching philosophy very well." Stacy Caro.
Mrs. Stacy Caro is a member of the English Immersion and World Language Departments. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and English from Centre College, and has completed a Post Baccalaureate Program at the University of North Georgia. Longtime educator of more than 15 years at Tallulah Falls School, Stacy also works with her husband, Luis, in their family business -- Louie's on the Lake. Stacy teaches Middle School French and ESL. Mrs. Caro has two children: Carlina '16 and Isabella '21.
Why did you decide to become a teacher? I wanted a meaningful career in which I had the opportunity to connect with people. Also, I’ve always known I wouldn’t be able to be in an office all day long. Education was the perfect avenue.
What is your teaching philosophy? The quote, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited,” expresses my teaching philosophy very well. I can’t possibly teach all of the content, but if I can get the students excited about the content, we can cover a lot of ground.
How do you define good teaching? Good teaching creates lifelong learners. A good teacher gives students the foundation and the tools to pursue their own interests and goals throughout life.
What is the most difficult aspect of teaching today? Technology. It is such a wonderful tool, yet such a distraction. Everyone has the world at their fingertips in the form of a smartphone, and it is hard to compete with that.
What's the best thing you enjoy about working at Rabun Gap? I love working in the Rabun Gap community. My coworkers are some of the kindest, most supportive people I’ve ever worked with. Furthermore, in the Middle School, we do a great job working as a team for the well-being of our students.
What are you known for? Well, my students may not always agree, but in the adult world, I’m known to be pretty easy-going.
What inspires you? My international students. They are navigating some of the most challenging years of their lives in a second language and far away from their homes and families. I recently came across the quote, “Do you know what a foreign accent is? It’s a sign of bravery.” This is so true, and my international students inspire me to step outside of my own comfort zones from time to time.
What did you want to be when you were young? I wanted to be a nurse like my mom, but I have actually been known to pass out at the sight of blood, so that clearly would not have been an option.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume alone? My first professional job out of college was as a flight attendant for American Airlines based out of Miami, Fl. My roommate and I had only lived there a couple of weeks when our apartment building caught on fire. Fortunately, neither one of us was home at the time, but we were displaced and had to live in a Howard Johnson hotel for several weeks. The Red Cross gave us vouchers for new clothes and meals at IHOP. I think I’ve only eaten at an IHOP once since that time, and that was out of desperation.
What’s one professional or personal skill you wish you had that you don’t? I wish I could sing well. I think that would be valuable both professionally and personally. I occasionally sing vocabulary or grammar rhymes to my students, and I sincerely apologize for subjecting them to that.
If you could go back in time to any era, which would it be? Hurricane Irma knocked out my power for a week earlier this year, and that has made me realize that I’m quite content to be in this era with electricity, running water, and wi-fi.
What do you work toward in your free time? I try to spend quality time with my husband and two daughters. We love to cook, eat, watch movies, and travel.
Is there anything else you would like to add? When I sit at the Middle School playground or watch a game at the Upper School, I can hardly believe I get to work in such a beautiful, natural setting with such a diverse group of people here in Rabun County. Rabun Gap gives me cause to count my blessings everyday.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
