Councilwoman McDermott, daughter of a submarine sailor and a beautician, spent her first ten years in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the next seven in Pensacola, Florida. She came to Colorado to attend college, graduating in 1970 from Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado). Her B.A. is in history and English, with a teaching license.

Her 30 year public school career began in Dove Creek, moved to Kremmling, then to Montrose. That was in the fall of 1971. She taught sixth through twelfth grade in the Montrose-Olathe school district, sometimes in the language arts and reading, sometimes in social studies and study skills. In addition, Carol taught graduate-level classes for Western State College, and Adams State College. In 1976 she received her masters in secondary education from Western State. She also taught adult community education classes for Mesa State and Delta-Montrose Technical College, as well as undergraduate classes for Mesa State at both the Montrose and Grand Junction campuses.

Carol served as volunteer on the following boards: Academic Booster Club, Habitat for Humanity, and Montrose-Olathe school board (two terms). Her volunteer committee work includes the Montrose Recycle Task Force, recreation district steering committee, Heart of the City Downtown Montrose, and the Magic Circle Players Community Theatre.

Carol retired from the Montrose-Olathe school district in May, 1999, and has enjoyed a freelance writing career with local newspapers and magazines, the publication of her teacher-resource book, and her recognition as a local poet. She is currently working a shift each week at Creative Corner, a crafters co-op on Main Street.

Committed to education as the key to a productive life, Carol has worked arduously to get post-secondary and community education classes offered in Montrose. She believes that education improves employability and enhances life in general.

She married Paul, a Gunnison native, in 1973, and together they designed and built their Montrose home and Arrowhead (Gunnison County) cabin. Carol can be seen walking up town and down during Main in Motion every summer for the past nine years--she is the storyteller.