by: Gretchen Arnold ‘25

If you walk inside the AAC (Arts and Activities Center) and look immediately to the right there is a wall of tiles. On one of these tiles you will see the words “Mr. Martin J. Carr, A leader of men.” Those words I have found could not be more true. Recently I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Carr due to his impending retirement.

On a career in education:
“When I was younger I wanted to be a veterinarian, then later I worked in a pharmacy so I thought I could do that. But really I can’t see myself doing anything else other than teaching. I had a great geometry teacher in 10th grade and she offered the class the opportunity to teach a lesson and I just loved it. I was a student who understood math so my friends would ask me to help them and I loved that too. From that time on I knew I wanted to become a teacher.”

On teaching at Trinity:
“I have definitely been shaped by the faith life I have here, the people I have worked with, families I have worked with, students who still keep in contact with me or I keep in contact with them. I did not go to Catholic grade school or highschool. I did go to a Catholic college though. Trinity was hiring and reached out to the University of Scranton placement office and they gave Trinity my name. I came down from the Scranton area and had the interview. They offered me the job so I took it. I didn’t have any other offers. When I first came to Trinity I didn’t think I was going to stay. But once I started teaching here and getting to know the families here I loved it. I can’t see myself anywhere else.”

On the House system at Trinity:
“The idea that we are trying to build community intrigues me. It makes me want to set up opportunities for students to get to know each other. I really like the idea of mixed homerooms. So that the upperclassmen could help the lowerclassmen with their transition to high school. That idea that we have an identity as a house.”