Carol Jones

Math Teacher
Junior Moderator
Prom Organizer
Started 2017

I most enjoy building relationships with the students enabling them to feel comfortable in my lessons. I truly believe that is a crucial part of teaching and building up their confidence. I try to make math more enjoyable by having this approach.

What is your role at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

Math Teacher

What do your students call you?

Ms Jones or probably the crazy Brit with the weird accent

What made you want to work at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

I have always wanted to live and work in California. I moved to Houston, Texas in 2005 where I was Vice Principal and Chair of Math at the British International School of Houston. I decided to move west when my son, Drew graduated from Fordham in NYC and moved over to Los Angeles. That was the catalyst to make the move almost 5 years ago and when I saw this campus and met the most amazing group of staff, it was always going to be my dream job.

What has been your proudest professional accomplishment?

Working in a very rough inner city school in the UK, not only surviving that for 10 years, but becoming a role model for students from very challenging backgrounds. My biggest success was teaching and mentoring a 14 year old boy who's father was in prison for armed robbery and becoming his support mechanism as well as his teacher. That student who was a superb mathematician and is now a Finance Director for a large UK company and often keeps reminding me that I changed the path of his life.

What has been your favorite teaching moment at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

There are too many to single out one, but I most enjoy building relationships with the students enabling them to feel comfortable in my lessons. I truly believe that is a crucial part of teaching and building up their confidence. I try to make math more enjoyable by having this approach.

What excites you most about your work here on the Hill?

Playing a small part in helping each young lady I teach, reach their goals and achieve their full potential in my class. I am so proud at graduation when I see them all excited about starting their new adventure in life and to be part of making that happen is so rewarding for me.

What is Flintridge Sacred Heart's best kept secret?

I am not sure we have secrets! If so I don't know about them :-). I guess having Sister Celeste and not letting any other school take her from us!

What do you love about the all-girls environment at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

I went to an all girls school and being a relatively small campus, it really does feel like we are one big family. The atmosphere around here is so amazing, supportive and welcoming.

What's your favorite spot on campus?

The walk over the bridge seeing that amazing view every day and feeling very privileged to work here.

When not in the classroom, where can you be found?

On the patio behind the Arts Center enjoying the gorgeous California weather.

What's your favorite place in the world?

South Africa has to be my number 1 favorite, a safari and a vacation in Cape Town and Jo'burg was such an incredible experience. I have traveled extensively around the world, so I have many favorite places really. Others include Brazil and Argentina and all over the Far East.

What are you surprisingly good at?

Interior design and gardening. I loved having a new house built here and choosing all the interiors, but most fun was actually painting walls and shopping for all the design features including designing all my landscaping around my pool which was so much fun to do.

Who has made the biggest impact on your life?

My lovely Mum. I sadly lost my Dad when I was 21 and my Mum in 2004, but everything about being, or trying to be a good Mum was from her. If I am half as good a Mum to Drew as she was to me, then I've done a good job.

What book, movie, work of art, piece of music, etc. can you not imagine life without?

Sorry, I do numbers!!! I am not a reader at all. However, I do appreciate good movies and music, so I guess I would miss live concerts and shows.

What did you want to be when you grew up (at age 12)?

I actually always wanted to be a teacher! Although I did decide to take a break from teaching at 27 and do something else. I applied to the Police force in the UK and I was accepted, but then I was offered a job as "European Training Consultant" for Renaissance Hotels and I did that until I had Drew and then went back to teaching. That was such a fun job meeting so many famous people and traveling all over Europe.