From Gunston to the classroom, Jamie Caron ’17 has always been passionate about education and literature. After graduating from Skidmore College, Jamie pursued a path toward teaching English, earning a Master of Education with a focus in literacy from the University of Virginia. “I wanted to teach, and I wanted to teach English. I had really cemented that desire during my senior internship at Gunston, where I essentially worked as a sub for the English department. I also took a creative writing class for the first time in my senior year that cemented my interest in writing,” he recalls. Jamie’s journey in education continued through graduate school, and in 2023, he joined the faculty at Wye River Upper School (WRUS) where he now teaches reading skills, English 8 and 9, and a creative writing course open to multiple grade levels.

“I love that I have the ability to teach in a way that lets me do what I want with the material I want. I have a lot of freedom (and time) to work with students individually, which is the greatest blessing I could ask for. It allows me to dive deep into topics in a way I wouldn’t be able to do in a larger school,” he said.

Jamie credits a creative writing class taken during senior year at Gunston as a transformative experience, shaping his love for storytelling and writing. The influence of faculty members also left a lasting impact—particularly Mr. Wiening, a supportive presence throughout his time at the school, and teacher Catherine Cunningham, who gifted Jamie a classroom poster upon her retirement, which now hangs in his own classroom.