Although she is only in her second year at Carmel Christian, Amy Abbott has made a quick impact on many members of the school and has become a fan-favorite among students. Her welcoming heart and fun-loving personality is what makes her such an important part of the Carmel community.

Abbott was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother stayed at home with the children, and her father was a Los Angeles police officer. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley and is the oldest of two children. After graduating from Louisville High School in Woodland Hills, California, Abbott attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for her college years. During her time in college, she got her master’s degree and met her future husband. After she graduated with her master’s, Abbott got married, and her husband joined the Secret Service Academy. The two moved to Columbus, Ohio, and then moved to Washington, D.C. after the 9/11 attacks. After five years in Washington, D.C., Abbott moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Abbott was a history and political science major in college, and she knew that her end goal would be a master’s in teaching or attending law school. Abbott eventually began working as a teaching assistant and helped her education professors in their classes in order to get her master’s degree for free! Once she got her teaching degree, Abbott developed a love for teaching and never looked back.

Abbott previously taught at Providence High School, but pursued a job at Carmel due to her two children, Mathew and Elizabeth, attending the school. Abbott brings energy to her classroom and is extremely vibrant and enthusiastic during class. When asked how she motivates her students when the energy seems low, she responded saying, “I really enjoy singing in class and doing my little dance. I have a whole orchestra going on in my head. And I’m having a good time in there, so I like to bring the party outside to the students.” Abbott says that her greatest strength being a teacher is her ability to find joy in any circumstance. She says, “I can see when there is a bummer, but then I’m pretty good at telling myself it’s time to reboot.”

During her time at Carmel, Abbott has tried to exemplify the positive and important traits of a teacher. Abbott states, “I think a teacher needs to be patient, and I think a teacher needs to be able to be willing to listen. I think it’s really important for teachers to listen to students because their story is important as well.”  She also stresses the importance of being humble and displaying humility, even while being a teacher. “I also think it’s really important for teachers to be humble . . . I’ve learned that it’s really important to be humble and to listen to those students, so that I can be a better teacher,” Abbott explains.

As a social studies teacher, Abbott loves teaching government and economics. Early on, Abbott taught second and fifth grade, but she never realized how much she enjoyed teaching high school, and how much she loved history until later. She believes that social studies and history class should be the most fun class because of its “awesome story.” Abbott adds, “I think what I love about it is finding out how our stories are part of God’s overall story.”

Abbott views her time at Carmel as a true blessing, and states that, “it’s an honor and a privilege for me to be able to be with kids who are made in God’s image and I get to spend time with them every day.”

Abbott has cherished her time at Carmel and has truly enjoyed teaching. When talking about teaching, Abbott even states, “I hope I get to do it for a long time.” Although she has only taught at Carmel for a short period of time, her impact around the school has been nothing short of amazing. Abbott can be seen in the hallways smiling, conversing with students and brightening people’s days, and that is an aspect of teaching that she loves. Abbott even mentions, “I love walking down the hall and seeing all my kids . . . That’s a blessing.” Abbott’s positive and electric personality is loved by many around the school, and her presence at Carmel has been a true blessing.