RI@Work: Erica Caligiuri

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Erica Caligiuri isn’t much taller than most of her students, but in the time I was in her classroom, I could tell she has (and had) a huge impact on her students. She was excited to tell me about the Stock Market game she uses as a math teaching tool. It leaves me wishing my teachers had done this game, I’d be much better at understanding the stock market! Her past students obviously appreciate her because twice in the short time that I was there, a group of past students took the time to stop by and check in. In addition to her day job, Erica is also a fashion blogger and works closely with the Providence fashion scene.

In her own words:
Every since I was a little girl I always wanted to be a teacher. I was that kid who always played teacher and at the end of the school year I would take home the extra dittos to play school with. When I was in sixth grade, my teacher was the best. She is one of the reasons I continued to pursue it. She was so supportive (my parents were getting divorced then and I can remember her pulling me aside and sitting with me and telling me her kids were going through the same thing and if I needed anything she’d be there). That moment was so profound. I’ve always loved working with kids. I started babysitting at the age of 12. I worked as a camp counselor and then became camp supervisor. I was a nanny for 9 years and loved it. Kids are my life.

I’ve been teaching for 11 years now. I taught special education for 6 years and I’ve been a sixth grade teacher for 5. I’ve always love the middle school kids. Young enough to still want your help and old enough to have real conversations. Its a tough age for kids and they really need guidance. I want to continue to be that person for some kids. There are days when I feel like I should be doing something else, more because of the political side and how people talk bad about teachers. But when my kids do something that make me so proud, that’s the reason why I stay.

If I wasn’t a teacher, I would love to be working in the fashion/beauty industry blogging. My dream job would be to blog for a major magazine. Being a Glambassador for Glamour magazine and Director of Operations for StyleWeek Northeast allows me to do this on my own but I would love for it to be a job someday. I would also love to finally get my children’s book published. I have been putting this off for years now and I need to just bite the bullet and do it. I’m also in the process of trying to get a travel product patented.

Being a teacher allows me to have all the loves in my life come true and I couldn’t ask for a better profession.”

Thanks, Erica – this was fun!

These images are part of my RI@Work personal project. Are you or someone you know doing something unique, interesting, or rewarding for work in Rhode Island? Drop me a line below to let me know if you’d be interested in being featured in this project. I’d love to hear about what you do!

Are you enjoying this series? Would you like to see more? Leave me a message in the comments below!

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