Grace Cafarelli’s Educator Preparation Nears An End, After Which The Rest Is (Teaching) History

Grace Cafarelli ’25 finds her passion in the classroom, guiding students and seeking creative ways to tap their curiosity.

She imagined it would be that way. Now, in her final semester and enjoying a student-teaching stint at a local middle school, the Keene State senior is finding that not only is this profession what she’d hoped for…it’s also so much more.

“The idea of growing up and figuring out what I wanted to do was intimidating,” Grace admits. “I was a communications major, but that sense of fulfillment and excitement I wanted wasn’t there. My parents gave me great advice. My dad said, ‘Do what you love because being happy is more important than the expensive things in life.’ Teaching, and more directly teaching history, was that love.”

Grace is a secondary education and history major. She came to Keene State from Marshfield, Massachusetts, and said the first time she toured campus she knew “this was the type of place I wanted to spend my next four years.”

When she enters the teaching workforce, she will join thousands of Keene State graduates shaping futures as educators in New Hampshire, across the country, and around the globe. They are school leaders, principals, early education center directors, and–in large numbers–teachers in public schools, private academies, charter schools, and corporate childcare centers.

Benjamin Pierce ’09, a Keene State graduate teaching history at Keene Middle School, is Grace’s cooperating teacher. He has worked closely with Grace since the start of the school year.

During the fall semester, while enrolled in Methods II, Grace completed over 30 observation hours in Ben’s class. As part of her coursework, Grace was required to teach two lessons, one observed by Ben and one by her supervising professor and adviser, Professor John Sturtz.

My parents gave me great advice. My dad said, ‘Do what you love because being happy is more important than the expensive things in life.’ Teaching, and more directly teaching history, was that love.”

– Grace Cafarelli ’25

“This gave Grace valuable experience leading a large group,” Ben said. “She has since transitioned into her student teaching placement in my classroom, where she continues to develop her instructional skills and classroom and behavior management skills.”

In her student teaching role, Grace is further developing her classroom skills while taking on the responsibility of planning and teaching her own unit, a three-week session on the American Civil War.

During her solo teaching period, Ben conducts regular check-ins, but “my approach is to allow her to independently manage the classroom, address behavior issues, and take ownership of her lesson planning. My goal is to allow her space to develop her teaching style.”

“The most eye-opening facet of my student teaching experience is the kids…they are truly awesome,” Grace says. “It surprised me how, while being as young as they are, the students can have the maturity of someone beyond their age, but the positive energy of a child.”

Professor Sturtz said it was Grace who continued to surprise him.

“Grace’s name fits her perfectly; she defines a quiet leader. She is humble and unassuming, and her poise helps create a warm and supportive classroom environment for her students.”

From early childhood to secondary education, Keene State’s education majors can choose a subject area from over a dozen programs.

The College’s education program has maintained national accreditation since 1954, and 14 of its undergraduate programs offer paths to recommendation for endorsement for New Hampshire licensure to the New Hampshire Department of Education. Only one-third of all teacher preparation programs in the country are nationally accredited.

Grace is gaining her wings and soaring.

She enjoys art, travel, and music. She says her time at Keene State has only deepened her love for New England, and she hopes to continue to call the region home.

“I feel like I’ve discovered a new part of myself, that I’ve gained the independence I need, and that I am completely ready for life after college. That’s a wonderful feeling.”

She added: “I brought to Keene State a sense of wonder, and I will leave with a feeling of accomplishment.”

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