She can teach religion.

She can teach physical education.

She can teach world history and Middle Eastern history.

She can teach government and economics.

And now she can teach psychology.

Kendra Caralis has moved from teaching underclassmen about Genghis Khan to figuring out the ways of the world with upperclassmen.

Caralis studied psychology as an undergraduate at Michigan State University, but didn’t earn enough credits to be certified to teach a psychology course.

So when she found out she was to teach the class at South, Caralis went back and did three online courses through her alma mater in one summer.

Teaching an Advanced Placement (AP) course is different than teaching a regular course, so Caralis attended the AP Institute over the summer to learn how to properly teach an AP course.

After taking those courses, Caralis was certified to teach psychology.  She was excited to return to a topic that had always interested her.

With three young sons at home, Caralis can see them developing in ways she teaches high school students about everyday.

“When I go to place Will down, he swings his arms out,” Caralis said, referencing the newborn reflexes her AP Psychology students study.

Caralis is excited to teach this course, since she has always loved psychology.

“It’s fun to be able to get back into it,” Caralis said.