You probably know her as the teacher who’s always in costume. This year’s teacher of the year is Carol Paradiso. She teaches English 12 Inclusion Core, World History II and English 12. She refers to herself as a “navy brat” and grew up here in Virginia Beach, where she attended Lake Taylor High School. She attended Old Dominion University, Long Island University and Cambridge College, along with 30 hours in special education. Paradiso started her career at Cox High School as a security guard and over a year later, she was hired as a special education teacher.

“In 1974, I was taking a VA-US history class with Mr. Girard. At that point I decided I wanted to teach and I wanted to teach history, because of his energetic and spontaneous classroom,” said Paradiso.

“I feel all of the sudden like I can voice my opinion a little and people will listen. It’s kind of an odd feeling. I found myself within the last week, advising people, when in the past I would kind of back up. But now I’m like, ‘Wow I’m teacher of the year!’” Paradiso said.

When asked what it’s like to teach alongside of Mrs. Paradiso, last year’s teacher of the year, Mrs. Erskine spoke of her relationship with her students.

“It is a lot of fun because when we plan together, we always try to think of doing a lesson in a way that’s going to get the attention of the students so that we keep them guessing. They never know what we are going to do next. She has a very close relationship with her students because the students quickly understand that she really cares about them. Her teaching style is very open and forthright; what you see is what you get,” said Mrs. Erskine.

In addition, Mrs. Paradiso’s students will be the first to tell you how wonderful of a teacher she is.

Students noted how awesome her teaching styles are and her deep care for all her students.