By Saloni Khairmode ’27
Math can feel like an uphill battle, but for Ms. Calderon, it’s a journey that she’s excited to make easier and more enjoyable for everyone who steps into her classroom.
Ms. C teaches Algebra 1 and Accelerated Algebra 2 to freshmen, sophomores and juniors. During her first year at SHS, she has built a strong connection with the school community. “I enjoy seeing all my students, and that’s what I look forward to every day,” she said. “I have great coworkers and great students, and that has allowed me to really enjoy my first year at SHS.”
Calderon’s passion for teaching math wasn’t a sudden discovery, but a dream she had carried since childhood. While growing up, she loved playing “teacher” with her sister using a whiteboard that her father had built. She was always eager to help her friends with math homework—what really stuck with her, she said, was the excitement on their faces when they finally understood the material: “That feeling is what inspired me to teach. My goal has always been to make math fun, enjoyable, and not so scary.”
Calderon graduated from Taunton High School and went on to earn her degree in Mathematical and Secondary Education from Bridgewater State University. Along her journey, she encountered many great teachers and a few not-so-great ones, leading her to realize that she wanted her teaching to have the same positive impact as her role models. Calderon added that she aims to foster a welcoming learning environment: “I want to build relationships with my students so they feel safe and comfortable—not just with math, but… when they need to talk.”
Calderon said that students who greet her throughout the day always put a smile on her face. “When I hear, ‘Hi, Ms. C!’ it really makes me smile,” she explained. “It shows me that I matter to them, even if they aren’t in my class anymore.” She appreciates Sharon High’s tight-knit community of students and teachers that acknowledge and support one another.
Calderon’s teaching style is interactive and student-focused. She believes that learning should be a two-way conversation where students can apply their knowledge in group and hands-on activities. Calderon also uses technology daily in her classroom, whether it’s by sharing resources through Schoology, giving Desmos tutorials, organizing math games, or using Kahoots and Gimkits to keep learning fresh and fun.
Just like any other teacher, of course, Calderon experiences challenges. She noted that encouraging her students to want to learn math is often difficult. “The hardest part is getting students motivated to do math,” she said. “Math can be intimidating, and it has a bit of a bad reputation in school. I work hard to make math feel less scary and more positive.” Calderon advises struggling students to remember that a mistake or low grade “is not the end of the world.” She also advises students to stay after school for extra help from their teachers: “[They] really do want to help you,” she said. “If you keep trying and putting in the effort, you will get somewhere.”
Moreover, Calderon believes that assessments of students’ progress should include more than just tests. In her classroom, students might be assessed through verbal check-ins, review packets, group problem solving at the board, or even class games. She added that this approach helps her see which students are ‘getting it’ and which might need a little help.
As a student, Calderon often struggled with procrastination and test anxiety. She knows what it feels like to sit in a classroom feeling stressed and disengaged. Now, she strives to improve that mindset. Calderon works hard to make her lessons interactive and inclusive, always aiming to bring energy and focus back into the room.
Bringing a young, fresh perspective to SHS, Ms. Calderon is excited to keep spreading math positivity, and she wants students to understand that with support from teachers and peers, even the hardest math problem can be solved.