Community Spotlight: Karilyn Calvert

My name is Karilyn Calvert, and I’m the Director of Academic Operations at Prestans Online Academy. I help ensure that our systems and teams work seamlessly together to support students effectively. Essentially, I act as a bridge between students, families, and our faculty and staff, making sure that everyone stays connected and receives the support they need throughout their time in the program.

The people make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow. This is especially true in our synchronous learning model, where live, real-time interactions allow students to connect meaningfully with both their teachers and peers.

When did you join Prestans?

I joined Prestans in the fall of 2023 as a Latin teacher. 

Tell us a little about your background and experience in education.

I love learning... but I was an accidental teacher. I began college with the dream of becoming an archaeologist, which took me on incredible field experiences, including time spent excavating at the Caladinho Archaeological Project in Portugal, conducting research in Albania, and also digging in Italy. In fact, I’m still involved with running a field school in Portugal where I first attended field school as an undergraduate many years ago! I hold this team and site very dearly in my heart. These adventures and more fed my passion for recovering history and understanding cultures firsthand. Ultimately, the fates guided me in college toward Classics, which combined my love for language, history, and archaeology perfectly.

Along the way, I discovered a passion for languages, studying seven over the course of my undergraduate and graduate years. I got a taste of teaching while in graduate school and, after earning my Master of Arts in Classics from the University of Notre Dame, I decided to embrace teaching fully. I started my career at Norfolk Academy, where I taught Latin and Ancient Greek and my inspiring mentor showed me the joy of learning alongside my students. Home and family eventually brought me back to New England, where I taught at Concord Academy alongside amazing colleagues and later Derryfield before finding my way to Prestans.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

It’s so hard to pick one! I have different favorites for different seasons of life. I really enjoyed classes with Mr. Aurnhammer, who taught my Math and English courses during sixth grade at ACS Hillingdon. As a reserved child navigating life in a foreign country, I distinctly remember how Mr. Aurnhammer helped me find my voice and build my confidence. Even though I was in a class with several peers, he had a unique way of making each of us feel seen and heard. 

Likewise, Professor Smith at the University of New Hampshire was an amazing teacher and mentor. As my advisor in Classics and instructor for several Greek and Latin courses, he was instrumental in fueling my passion for the ancient world. His enthusiasm was contagious, and his expertise in Greek, Latin, and all things ancient was nothing short of impressive. When I recall him in memory, it’s impossible to do so without a smile or a laugh because my memories of classes with him are so joyful–and so precious to me. My peers and I used to love playing “Stump the Professor,” tossing open the giant Liddell & Scott Greek Lexicon to a random page and asking him to define a word. (We never succeeded in stumping him!) He had an extraordinary ability to make the complexities of ancient texts accessible and engaging. His supportive approach and genuine passion for teaching left a lasting impression on me, reinforcing my commitment to education and inspiring me to share the same love for learning with my own students. 

What made you want to work at Prestans?

The chance to help build a supportive, engaging learning community across distances felt like a natural extension of my teaching experience, especially after years of cultivating meaningful connections in more traditional classroom settings while also recruiting diverse teams from across the country and world to join my team for an archaeological field school in Portugal.

The most compelling part for me, though, is how all of our team and teachers speak the same pedagogical “language.” We all work to center students in the learning process while also fostering strong relationships with them, and this ethos really resonated with my own teaching philosophy. I love getting to know students and harnessing what inspires them to foster learning.

What do you enjoy most about working at Prestans?

The people! When I first met Patrick and other members of the Academic Team, I felt a synergy. After attending various meetings and workshops with other Prestans teachers, I only felt it more. It’s inspiring to work with colleagues who are all passionately aligned with the same vision and who embody our shared values in their diverse roles. When we say that we center our students and prioritize relationships with them, we really mean those things—we live and honor them in all we do. 

What makes the online education at Prestans different?

Ditto number 6! Not a cop out answer, I promise! The people make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.

This is especially true in our synchronous learning model, where live, real-time interactions allow students to connect meaningfully with both their teachers and peers. Unlike other online programs, Prestans emphasizes these face-to-face sessions, creating a strong sense of community while maintaining the flexibility of an online environment.

What’s something you’ve learned about online education since working at Prestans? 

Since working at Prestans, I’ve learned that online education offers unique opportunities for personalized learning. The online setting allows us to tailor our approach more effectively to meet the needs of students. Whether it's through one-on-one check-ins, flexible pacing, or creative use of digital tools, I’ve seen how our educational model can provide students with a learning experience that truly fits their individual strengths and growth areas.

I’ve also seen firsthand how our online setting encourages students to take more ownership of their learning, which helps them develop greater independence and self-motivation. Nothing makes me happier than seeing our teachers centering student voice and choice in their courses—this connection helps make the learning magic happen.

What do you like to do for fun?

I love spending quality time with my family, especially outdoors. My partner, Dustin, and I make it a priority to get our energetic toddler outside as much as possible, whether it’s watching him explore and run wild in the field (we often amass a collection of pinecones, sticks, and leaves together) or taking turns pushing him in the swing. We really try to embrace the fresh air and nature in every season. I really enjoy hiking and snowshoeing, and when I’m not outdoors, I enjoy drawing, painting, and embroidery. Keeping up with the languages I’ve studied is also important to me, so I try to fit in some reading when I can.

On top of that, I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with caring for the land we’re fortunate to live on. We're slowly working on transforming it into a Christmas tree farm, a long-term project that has become a real labor of love. It’s been incredibly rewarding to plant, nurture, and care for the trees, and it’s given me an even deeper connection to the outdoors and our surroundings.