Every school year is full of fresh starts—new schedules, new lunch tables, new classes. But for teachers who are partly through their first year at Carroll, this school year signifies a whole new lifestyle.

New teachers, like debate and English teacher Erin Johnson, aim to bring a completely fresh angle to teaching.

“I’ve taught Pre-K all the way up to seniors, so that’s a new perspective,” Johnson said. “I’m also a mom and I’ve taught at an alternative school, and I’m coming into teaching middle aged. I have perspectives that your typical brand new teacher would not have.”

For some new teachers, Carroll is a completely different atmosphere.

“It is its own little unique piece of public school,” Special education structured learning teacher Beverly Davis said. “It looks like private education in a public school setting. It’s year 20 for me and I come from public schools, having taught in multiple public districts, and at the high school level, it’s the quietest place you’ve ever worked.”

For others, the district is not too unfamiliar.

“Carroll is home to me,” honors and AP statistics teacher Karen Knight said. “I was here for 13 years and then I moved to Maryland during the pandemic after getting married. And then, as soon as my husband retired from the military, we came back. So, with Carroll, there’s no place like home.