About Cara

A lifelong learner and passionate educator at heart, Cara loves talking math with her students. Growing up in Hawaii, she had two math professors as parents, and she strives to give her students the same access, support, and mathematical joy she received at home. After earning her B.A. in mathematics from Williams College and her Master’s in Education from Harvard University, she worked as a math teacher, department chair, swim coach, college counselor, mentor teacher, and curriculum creator at top private schools across the country for over 20 years (including, most recently, Pacific Ridge in Carlsbad and Rhoades in Encinitas). Known for her warmth and enthusiasm, Cara brings her extensive mathematical background and teaching expertise to her collaborative, student-centered classroom environment. She plans and facilitates rich, engaging lessons that allow her students to develop their skills as deep mathematical thinkers, clear communicators, and confident problem solvers.

Geometry

Mondays & Wednesdays 9:40 - 10:40 (full year)

Geometry is a one-year course focusing on reasoning and proofs, plane figures, transformations, congruence and similarity, and right-triangle trigonometry. It emphasizes rigid motion congruence, coordinate geometry, 3D shape measurements, and logical and spatial reasoning.

Key Topics Covered

· Transformations & Congruence: Rigid motions (reflection, rotation, translation) and constructing geometric figures.

· Proofs & Reasoning: Using theorems to construct formal proofs.

· Similarity & Trigonometry: Right triangle trigonometry (Sine, Cosine, Tangent) and proportionality.

· Circles & Polygons: Properties of circles, arcs, quadrilaterals, and polygons.

· Measurement: Calculating area, perimeter, surface area, and volume.

· Coordinate Geometry: Connecting algebraic equations to geometric shapes.

This course serves as the second or third year of high school mathematics, depending on the student's sequence and is designed to serve as a core high school math course in preparation for college or career transition.

Tuition: $850/semester including supplemental curriculum & supplies.

Location: Beach Chapel 510 S El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024

Algebra II

Mondays & Wednesdays 8:30 - 9:30 (full year)

Algebra II is designed to serve as a core high school math course in preparation for college or career transition. This course builds on Algebra I by extending concepts of functions and equations, with a strong focus on modeling real-world data and solving complex problems. Students explore quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, while the course introduces complex numbers, probability, and conic sections.

Key Topics Covered:

Functions & Modeling: Analyzing and graphing quadratic, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions.

Equations & Inequalities: Solving complex equations, including those with complex roots (imaginary numbers).

Polynomial & Rational Functions: Performing operations on polynomials and simplifying rational expressions.

Sequences, Series & Probability: Understanding patterns and data analysis.

Trigonometry: Extending trigonometric ratios to graphs and modeling periodic behavior.

This course prepares students for Pre-Calculus or advanced statistics, emphasizing the "why" behind mathematical structures and their applications to various phenomena. It is essential for meeting college admission requirements (often a "C" or better is required).

Tuition: $850/semester including supplemental curriculum & supplies.

Location: Beach Chapel 510 S El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024