Join us every Tuesday for Teacher Tuesday as we highlight the incredible educators at A One-Room Schoolhouse. Meet our passionate teachers, learn about their unique journeys, and discover the magic they bring to our classrooms. Get ready to be inspired by their dedication and creativity.
The Heart of A One-Room Schoolhouse East Campus
Welcome to another exciting chapter at A One-Room Schoolhouse (AORSH)! Today, we are thrilled to introduce Carla Shearer, the dynamic Classroom Director of our East Campus located in Plum, PA. Carla’s journey with us has been nothing short of remarkable, and her passion for education and child development is truly inspiring.
Carla Shearer is entering her second year at the East Campus, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a deep love for teaching. Before joining us, Carla worked as a nanny, where she embraced child-led learning and crafted engaging unit studies based on children’s interests and parental input. Her background also includes significant experience in the mental health field, where she served as a Clinical Supervisor, Therapist, and School Counselor in an Emotional Support School. With a Master’s Degree in School Counseling (K-12) and an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology and Education, Carla’s diverse skill set enriches our educational environment in countless ways.
Discovering the Schoolhouse
Carla’s connection to AORSH began serendipitously. After discovering us on Facebook and following our page, she felt drawn to our unique educational model. As her previous nanny position was coming to an end, Carla saw a Facebook ad for a Classroom Director position at AORSH. The timing was perfect, aligning with her desire to find a role that allowed her to tailor lessons to individual student needs—something she found closely aligned with her counseling experience. Additionally, Carla values the opportunity for students to spend time outdoors, reflecting her own childhood experiences of playing in the woods behind her house. Our East Campus’s wooded area, ropes course, and playground have been a dream come true for Carla and her students.
Looking Forward
This year, Carla is ecstatic to teach K-2 students, a group she feels passionately about, and to teach science to students in grades K-7. Her curriculum will include explorations of Hispanic culture and cuisine, teamwork, future aspirations, and of course, nature.
Reflecting on last year, Carla witnessed significant growth in her students, both academically and personally. She believes that building self-esteem is crucial for developing successful, resilient adults. This was evident in the Christmas and Easter showcases, where students demonstrated remarkable progress. One student who initially hesitated to participate in the Christmas showcase took on the role of line leader at the Easter showcase, showcasing incredible growth. Carla’s approach included providing repeated opportunities for students to build confidence through various activities, and the supportive nature of their peers played a crucial role in this development.
Why the Schoolhouse
Carla appreciates the hybrid model at AORSH, which balances character development with academic achievement. The model provides ample opportunities for collaboration, play, and exploration in diverse settings. Field trips, like the fan-favorite visit to Pinball PA, offer intrinsic learning experiences and insights into how modern games evolved. These experiences enrich students’ understanding and bring their learning to life.
The flexibility of the hybrid model also benefits families, allowing them to incorporate lessons into their daily lives. Carla notes that she takes her daughter’s lessons to the gymnasium on Mondays, where they integrate learning with gymnastics, rock wall climbing, and other activities. This adaptability is one of the many advantages of our approach.
A common challenge Carla faced last year was managing students with varying degrees of readiness for new skills. The flexibility of our schoolhouse setup allowed her to address these needs effectively. She appreciated the support from parent volunteers and is grateful for their contributions, which are integral to our community.
For new classroom directors, Carla offers the advice to lean on fellow staff and trust the process. She emphasizes the importance of using shared resources and not reinventing the wheel. Finding inspiration from Pinterest, Facebook groups, and collaboration with others can spark creativity. Carla recalls a project on the Civil War inspired by a Pinterest book study and how her dad’s involvement in creating a hands-on experience for electrical circuits was a collaborative highlight.
2024-2025 School Year
Looking forward to the new year, Carla is excited about a new opportunity for staff and parent volunteers to be trained on the ropes course. This training will allow more regular use of the ropes course throughout the school year, adding another dimension to our students’ outdoor experiences. Carla is also thrilled to welcome Mrs. Endres to the East Campus. Mrs. Endres’s extensive experience and seamless integration into the team promise to enhance the educational experience even further.
Carla Shearer’s dedication and enthusiasm are truly infectious, and we are grateful to have her as a vital part of our AORSH family. Her commitment to fostering a nurturing, dynamic learning environment exemplifies the spirit of our East Campus and the values we hold dear. We look forward to another wonderful year under Carla’s leadership and are excited to see the continued growth and success of our students.
Stay tuned for more updates and stories from A One-Room Schoolhouse on Tuesdays, as we continue to celebrate the incredible people who make our community special.
Need an application? Wants to find out more? We MAY have room for one or two students at our East Campus and a few more at our North Campus for the 2024-2025 school year.
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