Caren began her career in education in 1993, serving as a speech and language therapist for six years and then as an elementary teacher for 23 years. During the 2019-2020 school year, Caren was also an administrative intern for the ICSD and Northeast Elementary School. In 2020, Caren was appointed Director of Student Activities and Engagement at Ithaca High School and, beginning in 2020, also served as Project Lead Manager for Canvas, the district’s secondary school learning management system. This past year, Caren transitioned to her most recent role as an associate principal at Ithaca High School.
For Ms. Arnold, the Caroline Elementary School community is a fabulous place to be, and she is committed to creating equitable systems for all of the students the school serves.
“The physical environment [at Caroline] alone is impressive: wilderness and bike trails, gardens, a bird observatory, numerous outdoor learning spaces, and so much more,” Caren said. “Caroline’s focus on project-based learning, student inquiry, and community service days are traditions that will be maintained.”
Ms. Arnold has two grown children, Molly and Mason, who graduated from Dryden High School and attended TST BOCES’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program for animal science and welding. Outside of school, Caren enjoys kayaking, camping, hiking, reading, cooking, and being with friends and family.