Northwest native Mr. Frank Caro is one of the many new teachers at Cathedral, but stands out in more ways than one. In his twelfth year of teaching, Mr. Caro is known for not only his reputed teaching abilities, but the connections he forges with students. “His passion to teach and his energy in the classroom really helps make learning easy and enjoyable,” said senior Elizabeth Ellis. “I love how willing he is to answer questions and help his students with whatever they need, class-related or not.”

Mr. Caro moved to San Diego from Portland, Oregon this summer with his wife and five-year-old son, who just started kindergarten. “San Diego is amazing! It’s always super sunny. I found shade the other day and was amazed,” he laughed. Mr. Caro’s wife, a San Diego native, missed her hometown, so a major reason for their move was her “post-San Diego depression.” “San Diego is also a very enjoyable place to raise my son,” Mr. Caro said. He cites some of his favorite spots around town as Encinitas and various beaches.

Having taught at both the high school and collegiate levels, Mr. Caro finds that he has adjusted from his previous teaching endeavors. “[The transition] has been really exciting and positive, but there has also been a lot of change,” he said. “It’s not easy to move from one school culture to another, but I love all of my classes, and the students. The students are really what have made the transition more and more fun for me. Along with the awesome faculty, the students are the best part about working here.”

Mr. Caro describes his own high school experience as something of a “tale of two cities.” Freshman and sophomore year, he wanted to be a good student but was very involved in sports. However, around junior and senior year, Mr. Caro says that he got very focused. He played football which took up a lot of his time, but he says that by junior and senior year, he became very school-oriented.

Mr. Caro has a wide variety of taste in arts and culture. He loves jazz, the post-rock band Explosions in the Sky, various movie soundtracks, and the new Interpol album. Students are quick to notice the plethora of posters that decorate his room, including one for John Coltrane’s “Blue Train” album, the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, and an array of art pieces. He also enjoys cliff-diving.

Mr. Caro’s call to teaching came while he was in college. A professor asked him to serve as a TA, so he began teaching at the University of Washington, where he majored in psychology. He became so enamored with teaching that he ended up getting his masters in education, and got hired for his first teaching job right out of school.

In 2011, Mr. Caro was a recipient of the prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Education Award. This award, given to only forty people a year, comes with a $25,000 prize. It is highly regarded as “the Oscars of teaching.”

Mr. Caro teaches four periods of AP Psychology, one period of world history, and serves as the moderator for the National Honor Society and Project Smile Club. “In his short time here, he has already become such an important and well-liked member of the CCHS community,” said senior Raymond Boffman.

Mr. Caro encourages his students to persevere despite whatever odds they may be facing. “Too often, we look at failure, stop, and give up. But failure is a good sign,” he said. “In life, you have to expect challenges. If you’re not struggling, you’re not trying hard enough.”