Called to the Classroom: Caroline Cabina (’24) Teaching the Next Generation
March 13, 2026 | 2 min read
When Caroline Cabina graduated from Florida College in May 2024 with a degree in elementary education and endorsements in reading and ESOL, she was excited to step into the classroom, but she could not have imagined just how quickly it would feel like home. Today, Caroline is a fifth-grade teacher at a Hillsborough County Public School in Tampa, where she works with about 45 students each day. She describes her fellow teachers as her “dream team” and genuinely loves coming to work each morning. While she hopes to eventually return to school to earn her Master’s degree and possibly serve as a mentor or step into a leadership role, right now, she is exactly where she wants to be.
Caroline is quick to credit Florida College’s education program for preparing her so well. During her three internships she completed through FC, she always knew she had professors she could call on to answer questions, talk through ideas, or simply encourage her. As she now teaches her own students to think independently while she supports them, she often reflects on how her professors modeled that same approach. They allowed her to grow, learn, and problem-solve.
One of her favorite parts of the program was her small cohort of seven women.
“We did everything together,” she shares.
The close-knit group built lasting friendships through shared assignments, long days in the classroom, and plenty of laughter along the way. Through that experience, Caroline not only became a stronger educator, but also gained some of her very best friends.
Outside of her coursework, Caroline stayed actively involved on campus. She worked with the volleyball team as a manager and statistician, served as a tutor for Elementary and Intermediate Algebra and later stepped into a tutor mentor role, helping guide and encourage other tutors. Each opportunity helped shape her leadership skills and heart for service.
Now nearly finishing her second year in the very position Florida College helped her secure, Caroline says the job still feels like a dream. Recently, she and her two teammates received a regional award for having the highest reading growth from the beginning to the middle of the school year through the I-Ready platform, an incredible honor for their fifth-grade reading team.
While Florida College equipped Caroline for professional success, she says the greatest impact was spiritual. Her professors cared deeply about her soul, and their prayers and guidance continue to mean the world to her. The biggest lesson she carries with her is to give all the glory to God in every season. Teaching certainly comes with challenges, but by leaning on the Ultimate Teacher, Caroline finds joy in the classroom each and every day.