Teacher Feature: Caitlin
Caitlin grew up in a family of educators, which inspired her to teach from a young age. Her first pupil was her three-year-old younger sister, who she taught to read. She hasn’t stopped teaching since that time, and the world is a better place because of it.
A parent tells us: "[My child] would not be reading right now if not for his tutoring sessions with Caitlin. When he first started, he had trouble reading 3 letter words. Today, he is trying to read anything at all. He used to read in a muffled, quiet voice, afraid to make mistakes. Now he reads to us every day (his idea) in a strong and clear voice. It has been a joy to see his confidence grow as his skills improve.”
You can learn more about Caitlin’s inspiration for teaching, favorite books, and what she does when she’s not teaching, below.
About Caitlin
Caitlin graduated with a doctorate in clinical psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. Her dissertation explored the ways in which adolescent girls engage with social media from a developmental perspective. She graduated with honors from Mills College with double majors in film studies and literary and cultural studies. Caitlin also attended Harvard College for two semesters as a visiting undergraduate student studying visual culture and modernity.
Previously, Caitlin has served as a teacher with K-8 students in an after-school program, as a horseback riding instructor, and as a psychotherapist. Caitlin focuses on the unique strengths and potential in each student. She uses all learning modalities to help students to develop their strengths. Her approach is holistic in nature, taking into account the whole person and their family. Caitlin is empathic, warm, responsive, and creative in her teaching style.
Q & A With Caitlin:
When did you start teaching and why?
I have always been interested in learning and grew up in a family of educators. As a result of being surrounded by educators, teaching for me really began for me in childhood, teaching my younger sister to read when she was three. Other early teaching experiences were inspired by growing up with horses, teaching my younger sister and neighborhood friends how to ride.
My mother also had an art school where I was exposed to different learning modalities and theories in practice. I have always been intrigued by alternative ways of creating and running a learning environment and have been fortunate enough to have had a rich and diverse education, exploring both American and international academic programs in a wide range of subjects including film theory, digital media, and visual culture.
What’s your favorite subject to teach and why?
Social studies is my favorite subject to teach because it includes all of the challenges of English, including reading and writing, and yet it relates to the real, living world around us. I especially love to teach social studies to younger students who are information sponges--hungry to know more about how their world works!
What do you enjoy most about teaching with Pacific Preparatory?
One of my favorite aspects of teaching with Pacific Preparatory is the agency I have as a teacher to direct course content and adjust to each of my students’ individual needs. And, Pacific Preparatory is extremely supportive of teachers and we’re provided with many helpful learning resources, always available at our fingertips. It’s amazing to have everything I need in order to create a high-end learning environment for my students.
Can you tell me about a specific time when you saw a student thriving at Pacific Preparatory?
I truly see my students thrive in different ways each and every day. A significant example would be when a student who was below grade level and struggling to read broke through their struggle and began reading in a loud, clear and animated voice in our lessons together--a wonderful gain of ability and confidence. Another example is when a student completed her project on the topic of heritage while traveling to visit her grandparents; it was a fun project and she got to learn first hand about the traditions of her ancestors.
What are your top 3 book recommendations in your subject area?
All of the fiction books by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmeiri including Secret Pizza Party, Robo Sauce, and Dragons Love Tacos; these are great for teaching students to read and write.
I love books in which the protagonist uses their writing utensil to directly influence the world around them, like in Harold and the Purple Crayon and Malala’s Magic Pencil, because they instill the power of creativity and imagination in young learners. Additionally, Malala’s Magic Pencil also teaches students about human rights and global issues in a kid-friendly way.
This Is How We Do It is an excellent book for introducing early readers and learners to different cultures and traditional ways of living around the globe.
What is your favorite activity to do outside of teaching?
When I’m not teaching with Pacific Preparatory, I practice psychotherapy, specializing in helping adults find their voice. My research has been about adolescent girls and their experiences with social media as a tool for navigating developmental challenges. Recently, I completed two years of training at the Jung Institute of San Francisco. I also regularly practice yoga and mindfulness, enjoy gardening at my Petaluma home, and of course, embarking on mountain and ocean adventures.
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Thanks Caitlin for all of the great work you do for your students and families. We appreciate you!
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