Cara Bergeron

Cara Bergeron

Degree: B.S. in Applied Art & Design, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; M.S. in Safety & Systems Management, University of Southern California; Certificate in Classical Christian Studies, New Saint Andrews College

Year Joined Staff: 2013

Professional Background: After graduating from Cal Poly, Mrs. Bergeron worked for Computer Sciences Corporation as a graphic designer. Then, after spending five years at home with her four children, she joined the team at Classical Conversations as a classroom teacher and trainer. Later she joined the Classical Conversations administrative team as State Manager for Oregon and Idaho. The necessity of furthering her education in the humanities led her to take classes at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho, where she discovered her love for history, languages, and writing. Mrs. Bergeron loves coaching students through the multi-faceted, integrated “subjects” of Mock Trial: writing, linguistics, logic, rhetoric, acting, and law. She is currently continuing her own theological Latin studies through the Davenant Institute.

Philosophy of Education: Preparation happens before a teacher enters the classroom. A teacher who expects active participation from her students must be active in her own education, active first in her own mind. Students become like their teachers–with their same weaknesses, their same strengths. My aim is to increase activity and confidence in each student’s mind and body, employing pedagogies of the medievals as well as current research about how we learn and remember best. I want to give quick feedback so that my students are aware that I applaud their hot pursuit of truth and virtue, or that they’re not there yet, and can exert further effort in order to reach the goal. In both discipline and encouragement, I am seeking what a wise teacher called “soul-to-soul interaction” with my students.