John Carnesecca is a teacher, a coach and the Department Chair for Social Science at Great Oak High School in Temecula, CA. He is also a Claes Nobel 2014 Top 10 Educator of the Year. “Coach Carny," as he is known to his students, has earned a reputation for engaging students by prompting them to think deeply about their subject matter.

1. The National Society of High School Scholars
Learn. Lead. Change the World.
www.nshss.org

2. Q&A
with NSHSS Top 10 Educator

3. Q&A
with NSHSS Top 10 Educator
John Carnesecca

4. John Carnesecca is a teacher, a coach and the Department Chair for Social Science at Great Oak High
School in Temecula, CA. He is also a Claes Nobel 2014 Top 10 Educator of the Year. “Coach Carny," as
he is known to his students, has earned a reputation for engaging students by prompting them to
think deeply about their subject matter.
Mr. Carnesecca’s passion has had a deep impact on his
students, and he has an innate ability to pass his love of
education on to his students. “I teach,” he says, “The
trade of teaching can be learned.
The art of teaching may be inherent. As for me, I want to
be the best and give my best each day.
My students deserve it.”
Mr. Carnesecca recently answered some questions
about his philosophy and experience to share with the
NSHSS community.

5. Q: What inspired you to become a teacher?

6. Q: What inspired you to become a teacher?
A: I suspect that teaching was always in the back of my mind, and teaching high school especially. I
had a great teacher in high school, Mr. McGuire whom I tried to emulate and probably, to some
degree, still do. What pushed me to make my decision was the first time I held my first born son. I
remember distinctly thinking, “you need to do what you want. You need to teach.” So I did the crazy
thing, quit my job with a new born and went back to school.

7. Q: What do you love about being an educator?

8. Q: What do you love about being an educator?
A: Teaching is vital. It is dynamic. It is not static and boring and I
enjoy my topic. Teenagers are at a critical moment where growth
and development comes in leaps and bounds. I want to be part
of that. My life matters.

9. Q: What is the biggest challenge of being an educator?

10. Q: What is the biggest challenge of being an educator?
A: The system. The system is complex, political, politicized, and vulnerable to waves of
reform that truly make little impact except to stir the water. Teaching is fundamental.
It is not complex in its basic purpose. Adults helping to grow young minds while helping to
transfer a bit of knowledge. That is what it is meant to be. It is not meant to cure society’s ills
in 50 minutes of class time.

11. Q: What is the greatest piece of advice that you have ever
received?

12. Q: What is the greatest piece of advice that you have ever
received?
A: Don’t let the turkeys get you down. I can remember that one statement and have
replayed it in my head over and over. It was made by a person who tried to teach
but was abused out of the profession.

13. Q: If you can give one piece of advice to incoming
teachers, what would it be?

14. Q: If you can give one piece of advice to incoming
teachers, what would it be?
A: To be great, teaching must be a cause. If you are doing it for
other reasons, no matter what they are, then don’t. We have enough
of average.

15. Q: What is your greatest wish for your students?

16. Q: What is your greatest wish for your students?
A: Growth. Be different and better than when you arrived.

17. Q: How has NSHSS impacted
your career as an educator?

18. Q: How has NSHSS impacted
your career as an educator?
A: NSHSS celebrates the success of
students but remembers that teachers
facilitate that success. You are the
ONLY organization that sincerely, truly,
clearly celebrates the good teachers
do. AND you do so with
professionalism and with dignity. NO
organization makes a comparable
attempt to build the community of
education like NSHSS for it is a
community of learners and teachers
that make this work.

19. Q: What do you see as the
biggest benefit of an NSHSS
membership for your
students?

20. Q: What do you see as the
biggest benefit of an NSHSS
membership for your
students?
A: There are many. First, I have
watched it grow and its influence
expand. NSHSS now has true access
and impact. Your partners are
important and they show up to the
conversation. You are funded and
spend the funds on right actions.
You make people feel special, and
that builds a better tomorrow.

21. John Carnesecca speaking at
the NSHSS San Diego Member
Event on October 3rd, 2015

22. John Carnesecca speaking at
the NSHSS San Diego Member
Event on October 3rd, 2015

23. John Carnesecca
accepting his Claes
Nobel Top Ten Educator
of the Year Award from
NSHSS Vice President
Beth Pann at the NSHSS
San Diego Member
Event on October 3rd,
2015.