Following a long term substitute stint at Boulan Park Middle School, Nina Caradonna, Troy High School English teacher, “fit in perfectly with the staff” in the words of fellow English teacher Andre Collaku.
Caradonna’s goal in teaching is “to reach students that aren’t super into English” and she feels that this is important so that her students not only enjoy her English class, but all English classes. When asked about her approach to getting reluctant students to enjoy reading, Caradonna stated that she uses a metaphor she saw in a Ted Talk: a windows and mirrors analogy about different types of stories.
She explained a ‘window story’ as a look into an experience that is vastly different from the audience’s life. The purpose of a window story is to “expand your worldview” because it “encourages things like empathy and a mutual understanding.”
“A mirror story was described as a mirror of one’s own life experiences. That can be incredibly validating as many high schoolers feel lost,” she added.
When asked to comment on ‘mirror stories,’ she stated that “They [teenagers] realize ‘my stories are being written,’ ” said Caradonna.
“For a reluctant reader, pick up a mirror book, and for an avid reader, get outside of your comfort zone and pick up a window,” was the advice that Caradonna relayed.
As new students walk into her classroom across from the auxiliary gym and adjacent to the boys locker room, they will realize something special: Nina Caradonna surrounds herself with everything that she loves.
“I wear it on my sleeve, my favorite things,” and she certainly does. Behind her desk is a poster of Stevie Nicks and opposite it are “Midsommar” and “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” posters that light up her slightly overheated room with all the things she is fond of.
Her music taste is an amalgamation of Alex G, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks’ influence: the exact mix of indie and retro rock that you’d expect from a 20-something new hire with thick octagonal glasses.
“There are 14 albums [by Alex G] unreleased, and I’ve listened to all of them,” Caradonna added.
While in high school, Caradonna was always performing music. “It was my life,” she reminisced. “I love Stevie Nicks. When I was performing in high school and finding my personal style. She had everything to do with that.”
In the midst of every other cool thing she’s done, she also spent a short amount of time in artist management before teaching, managing names as big as The Black Keys. Fortunately for Troy High School, she decided to become an English teacher.
Returning to the elegantly-stated words of Andre Collaku Nina Caradonna is “super cool.”
“She has great ideas when we’re collaborating and I’m like dang, that’s a great idea.” said Collaku.
This is great news for Caradonna as she “needs a collaborative environment.” Evidently, she has a reputation as being a team player who comes up with ideas that are creative and useful to Troy High School’s English department.
Collaku described Caradonna as “a big ball of ideas,” which is one way to describe this unique new member of Troy High School’s staff.
