Mother and daughter embark on education degrees together
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Lindsay Kidd ’11, M.A.Ed. ’12 is returning to the School of Education this fall to pursue her third degree from William & Mary, a Ph.D. in K-12 Leadership. This time, though, one of her fellow students is her own mother, Trish Caroccia, who started this summer as a master’s student in Science Education.
“It’s been a bit of a role reversal, since she’s always been the one to offer advice as a parent,” says Kidd. “Now, I have the opportunity to return that favor in a small way as she navigates the School of Education and her program.”
Both have devoted their lives to education. After earning her teaching degree at W&M, Kidd spent six years teaching in Newport News Public Schools and is now starting her second year as an assistant principal in the division.
Caroccia was a stay-at-home mother until her children had all left the nest. “When my youngest daughter went to college, so did I,” she says. She’s completing a master’s degree in Ocean and Earth Sciences at ODU, and her experience as a TA solidified her desire to become a teacher. As a Noyce Scholar at William & Mary, she’ll benefit from scholarship support and special programming in exchange for promising to teach science in a high-needs school for two years.
“One of the reasons that I chose William & Mary was that I saw the wonderful education and opportunities that my daughter received as a graduate of the School of Education,” says Caroccia. “But with my background in science and research, I was also drawn to the strength of the research culture here.”
Caroccia has been encouraging her daughter’s ambitions in education from a very early age. “My mom bought me so many teaching supplies throughout the years that I had enough stickers, pointers, and chalk to stock my classroom before ever being offered a job,” says Kidd. “I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from my family to pursue my passion for this field.”
After earning her doctorate, Kidd hopes to seek a professor position teaching classroom management and community relations to aspiring teachers. “Just as I get to do now in my position as an assistant principal, I enjoy working with teachers to build capacity. I look forward to the opportunity to inspire future teachers before they step into their own classrooms.”
Her mother shares that inspiration, and plans to teach middle- or high-school science after earning her teaching degree. “It’s wonderful to be able to share this incredible experience at the School of Education with my daughter,” says Caroccia.
