Carie Spicer

Middle School Special Education Teacher

I met Ms. Carie over the internet when I read an about an amazing story. I KNEW I wanted to share it with everyone, so I had her put it in her own words:

Before Spring break, I decided to have my students create artwork for my cruise door as part of my 50^th birthday celebration. When I got onto the ship, I put their artwork on display and asked the patrons on board to please also create art or write a note back to my students and let them know where they were from! Our cruise set sail from Tampa to Key West and from Key West to Progresso, Mexico. To my surprise, when I got to Mexico and had cell service again, my cabin door had become a little famous online on the ships webpage! It had also made its way to the Hip Mt. Juliet webpage.

At the end of the trip, the patrons sent the students several trinkets, artwork and about 50 notes with their location and artwork!! We are starting a mapping project next week to work on our math and life skills. The students love creative ways of learning and I really enjoy being part of their world.

Isn’t that incredible? Ms. Carie spent her time on her 50th birthday cruise maximizing impact for her SPED kids. Let’s learn more about what makes Carie, Carie!

Introduction: Carie Spicer

I am married to my husband, Nick of nearly 22 years and we live in Lebanon (Mt. Juliet School district). I am a SPED teacher at Mt. Juliet Middle School. We have a son named Warren who is a student at MTSU. We have 2 Australian Sheppard dogs, Lucy and Fozzy and one cat named George.

Q: What brought you to Mt. Juliet, and how long have you lived or worked here?

A: My husband and I have lived and worked in the Mt. Juliet area for about 6 years total. We lived here initially back in 2013 and moved back to Ohio in 2015, but Mt. Juliet called us back and we returned in 2021. We decided we are here for life! We absolutely love it here.

Q: What was Mt. Juliet like when you first came here? Paint us a picture of the community and city you knew back then.

A: In 2013, Mt. Juliet was a lot less populated. My husband was working for a company near E. Division Street close to the train tracks. It was setback away from the road and not much more was in that area to speak of. Now you will find a lot more shops, restaurants and apartment buildings in that area. The number of homes has also greatly increased. I can say the options for shopping and food are a lot better now with the expansion of Mt. Juliet.

Q: What’s something about Mt. Juliet that makes you stay in the community?

A: Mt. Juliet really is HIP. We can joke about that, but it is truly a great place to live and work. There is a sense of a small town community where people rally together and have a great pride to call this place their home. I have made so many great friendships and felt so welcomed by the folks I have met here. It really does feel like home.

Q: If you could switch lives with any famous person (alive or dead) for one day, who would it be and why?

A: Dolly Parton. She is and always has been my idol. All the fame and money aside, it is her heart for others that I truly see as the greatest value someone can aspire to. I would love to see the world from her perspective.

Q: What is the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen?

A: It may seem sad to some, when my grandfather was passing away, a single tear rolled down his face. I will never forgot that tear. I will never forget how much he loved me.

Q: What book, podcast, or show are you loving right now?

A: The Autism Helper Podcast

Q: What is one thing you do to help make your day a good one, no matter what?

A: One tip I got from a dear friend of mine is to always start my day with a gratitude list. This might only be 2-3 things and I just rattle off to myself on the way to work in the morning, but they are things that help me focus on the good things that are happening in life. Sometimes I have less, somedays I have more. The thing to remember is, if you can only put down that you woke up, got out of bed, and got dressed that day, that is ok. Other days, you may have ran 3 miles, reorganized your closet and paid off a big bill! But no matter what, you deserve to remind yourself that each and every day is better with you in it.

Q: What advice have you taken to heart that truly made a difference for you?

A: “Love people where they’re at” – I attempt to live my life this way because not only does it help me manage my expectation of those in my life, but it helps me greatly as a SPED teacher. In order to really determine how I can help my students, I first need to understand what are their basic needs? Where are they at right now and how can I enhance their learning experience? Loving someone where they’re at takes away my expectations on what I think vs. what that individual actually needs from me to progress.

Q: If there’s anything you could add or change about Mt. Juliet, what would it be?

A: I would love to see more inclusive activities for children with disabilities. These children have so many amazing talents to share with the world!