In “The Teacher’s Bible,” released earlier this month, Mount Saint Mary College professor Victoria Caruana uses faith to guide educators through the rough patches.
In addition to the full text of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, “The Teacher’s Bible” contains 40 devotions written by Caruana. This section, says Caruana, can help teachers to grow in their both their profession and their religion.
“These are really deep problems that we’re encouraging teachers to solve or address in their own lives by utilizing their faith,” explained Caruana. “Each devotional offers a resolution – not necessarily a solution – and ends with a prayer.”
Caruana examines student discipline and reward, dealing with disappointment, when to expresses joy or sorrow to students, and more.
“There’s so many ethical dilemmas, so many things that happen in a school,” she said. “But how do I get over the things that bother me? Because if I stay in a negative place, I might not give the kids what they need. I hope that ‘The Teacher’s Bible’ will help teachers overcome hardships.”
The devotionals, she says, are culled from her time teaching kindergarten through 12th grade in both special education and gifted education. She has served as a resource room teacher, a self-contained classroom teacher, a co-teacher in an inclusive classroom, and as a learning specialist. She has also taught in higher education at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg College, and Regis University before coming to The Mount.
Left: Victoria Caruana, assistant education professor, on the Mount Saint Mary College campus.
Caruana’s areas of specialization are learning strategies, curriculum development, accreditation, standards-based individual education plans, reflective practice, and Universal Design for Learning. Her research interests include transformative learning, teacher identity, inclusive education, and teacher dispositions.
Caruana says that B&H Publishing Group approached her about writing the devotionals for “The Teacher’s Bible” because they valued the insights she made in her previous publications. Over the course of her career, Caruana has written 100 education articles and 22 books, including the bestselling “Apples and Chalkdust.”
“That was a really humbling experience,” she said. “I haven’t published in a few years because I shifted my focus to being a college professor. I didn’t think anyone remembered me. I didn’t expect this to happen.”
Caruana began teaching at Mount Saint Mary College about two years ago. The Mount is ranked a Top-Tier University by U.S. News& World Report, and offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for careers in healthcare, business, education, social services, communications, media, and the liberal arts.
“The Teacher’s Bible” is available on Amazon and bhpublishinggroup.com