Imagine dedicating over 40 years of service to one organization, specifically in the halls and sports fields of our beloved PDS. This faculty member’s first days here were years before personal computers became commonplace in schools, nearly a quarter century before the iPhone, and when Ronald Reagan was in his first term as President of the United States. Someone who has held widely varied positions across the span of their career here, from a member of the maintenance team to the Head of Judiciary. This person has taught Biology, Environmental Science, and Genetics. In athletics, they have been a PDS Varsity Soccer Coach, an assistant coach for PDS Girls Lacrosse and a coach for the MS Blue hockey team. If you guessed that this well-accomplished faculty member Dean Carlos Cara, you are correct!
As the sun sets on the 2023-24 school year, PDS will leave their farewells to Dean Carlos Cara. Mr. Cara is retiring after forty-one years of service and our halls and fields will no longer echo with his words. When asked what he will miss about being at PDS, he shared, “Everything. The joy, participation, the community, the culture, the fun; all of it.” At the same time, retirement is something Mr. Cara eagerly anticipates, especially the time he will be able to spend with family. Mr. Cara looks forward to spending more time with his granddaughter and fly fishing at his cabin in Massachusetts. As his focus shifts, the new memories he makes with family will add to those he cherishes from his days at PDS. Most of these memories, he said, “have to do with triumphs that I’ve been part of when it comes to students, whether it be on the sporting fields or in the classroom, and it’s been great to see all the kids who succeeded and pursued their passions.”
Mr. Cara’s impact extends far beyond his teaching and coaching roles. He leaves a legacy with the colleagues whom he has worked with and looks up to him personally and professionally. Samantha Dawson, Director of Counseling and Learning Support, has been a colleague of Mr. Cara’s since 2013 and regards him as “one of the most generous, dedicated teachers and colleagues that I have ever worked with. He sees the good in everything and is such a positive person to be around.” When asked about his legacy, Dawson sums it up by saying that Mr. Cara leaves behind “the best of what an educator should be.” Kelly Bethoney shares similar sentiments in referring to Mr. Cara as “truly a master teacher.” For her, the legacy is “the knowledge and wisdom to those he has worked with and an enthusiasm for learning that will be sorely missed.” Students also agree that Mr. Cara has had a huge impact. Sresta Aithardju ‘25 is one such student who thanks Mr. Cara for “having the wisdom to share, and encouraging me to do my best work.”
Thank you, Mr. Cara, for giving us your best for forty-one years. We are better people because of your four decades here. You will be missed.
