What does it mean to be a teacher? For University alum and Spanish teacher Melissa Caraher (’10), it means supporting students as whole people by seeing them not just for what they do, but for who they are.
For Melissa, University has always been more than a school. She walked these halls as a student, met her husband Patrick (’10) here, and today teaches Spanish while raising her own family. “From age 14 until now, I still feel like I’m getting something from this place,” she reflected. “University taught me how to be a teacher, how to be a human, how to think differently about the world.”
When asked what it means to be a University teacher, Melissa doesn’t hesitate: it starts with the students. “They buy in from day one. They love learning, and even if Spanish isn’t their favorite class, they show up, engage, and want to be here. And the teachers are the same way. They care about the whole human.”
That spirit shows up in so many ways. Melissa recalls colleagues and students making sure everyone is included, whether in group activities, community days, or even shadow visits. “Nobody ever gets left out,” she said. “Kids cheer each other on, and even if someone doesn’t want to participate fully, their classmates make space for them.”
Generosity for Melissa is woven into both teaching and mentoring. As a student, her mentor, art teacher Tasha Barger, modeled a relationship that extended well beyond the classroom. They would often grab coffee when Melissa was home from college, and later, Tasha was there for life events like weddings and new babies. That experience shaped the kind of mentor Melissa wants to be now. “It’s not just about teaching content. It’s about building relationships and showing up for students in ways that matter.”
So, what does it mean to be a teacher at University? For Melissa, it means being authentic and modeling generosity in ways big and small. It’s about giving of yourself, while being part of a community that gives back just as much.
When you give to the U Fund, you make it possible for teachers like Melissa to support students as whole people. Your generosity sustains University’s signature programs like one-on-one mentoring, J-Term, and no-cut sports, ensuring that our mission to expand the hearts and minds of students remains at the core of what we do. Please consider a gift today.
