The fifth-grade classroom was buzzing with activity—and there was a new face in the crowd. Moving through the room with ease, she was welcomed by students at every table. Mrs. Cara McNelly, St. Thomas’s Learning Specialist, has a natural way of connecting with students. She believes she can learn a great deal about a child by observing how they approach new or unfamiliar situations—something she’s experiencing personally in her first year at St. Thomas’s.
“Watching students tackle challenges is a constant source of inspiration for me,” she shares. “The way a child engages with learning helps shape how I design lessons to best support their growth. Working with students individually and in small groups allows my own curiosity to guide my teaching.”
Mrs. McNelly is eager to share her passion for learning with the St. Thomas’s community. She views everyone as a lifelong learner—a value she models and instills in her students. At the heart of her approach is building strong, collaborative relationships with students, educators, and families. She is convinced that this is the key to creating an environment where children feel safe to take risks and grow with confidence.
Mrs. McNelly holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Salve Regina University and a Master of Science in Education from Albertus Magnus College.
“I’m genuinely excited to get to know the students and teachers at St. Thomas’s, and I look forward to contributing to this community in a meaningful and thoughtful way,” she says. Learn more about the St. Thomas’s Day School program and register for our Open House here: https://stthomasday.org/admission/visit/
At St. Thomas’s, we believe that every moment of learning, growth, and connection deserves to be celebrated and shared. Our ongoing “Thinking Big” series is designed to capture the vibrant life of our school community—inside and outside the classroom. Intentionally Small, Thinking Big.
