Cary Hughes · Retired educator
Helping students discover
what they can do
I retired in 2025 after 45 years at High Mowing School in Wilton, New Hampshire, working in teaching, school leadership, and student affairs. For 43 of those years, I taught social studies.
A career centered on students
Listening is where learning begins
I continue to find working with teenagers deeply rewarding. This is a time when students are discovering their interests, developing their judgment, and learning what they are capable of achieving.
My roles at High Mowing School included classroom teacher, Dean of Students, and Faculty Chair. I taught history, literature, and social sciences, developed curriculum that encouraged critical thinking and global awareness, and mentored students and colleagues.
My work brought me into contact with families from the United States and more than 20 countries. Working with students from different backgrounds reinforced the importance of listening carefully and understanding each learner as an individual.
45
years teaching
social studies
Learning beyond the classroom
Preparation · Perspective · Participation
I established and led High Mowing’s Model United Nations program for decades and continue mentoring the program after retirement.
Model UN gives students opportunities to research international issues, consider different perspectives, and practice public speaking. It brought together many of the skills I value in tutoring: preparation, thoughtful discussion, and the confidence to contribute.
Making learning matter
Find the connection that opens a door
One student I worked with over several years initially seemed disengaged from school. By connecting his interest in current affairs with the study of history, we found a starting point that mattered to him. As his interest grew, so did his confidence and engagement with his studies.
| "Understanding a student’s interests and strengths can open the door to learning."
Learning to ask better questions
I want students to develop the confidence to question, investigate, and form their own understanding. I see AI as one possible starting point for finding research resources. Students still need to examine those sources and do their own reading, evaluation, and writing.
Public service
A practical perspective on civic life
I served on the Town of Wilton Budget Committee for 40 years, including more than a decade as chair, and spent five years on the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Budget Committee.
I also chaired the committee charged with recommending a Town Administrator in 2023 and served for 25 years as a liaison between the school and the town. The Town of Wilton, New Hampshire, has twice named me Citizen of the Year.
These experiences provide a practical perspective on the institutions and civic responsibilities students encounter in their studies.
A thoughtful next step
Let’s talk about your student’s goals
Tell me what you’re studying, what feels challenging, and what you hope to achieve.