What inspired you to become a teacher?
My Head of School believed in my math abilities so much that she said, “You should teach math.” And here I am. Being an engineer by trade, teaching was never on my radar. However, as I see the need for math-based careers, I want to contribute as much as I can to develop students’ abilities to enter these careers.
What adjectives would you use to describe your presence in the classroom?
Fun, confident, real life, forgiving
How has becoming a teacher changed for you over the years?
Where I was once unsure and doubting my teaching abilities, now I feel strong, confident, and proud of how I teach my students. I learned to not be so “technical” while teaching math but to teach in a way that the students relate to in real life.
If you weren’t teaching, what career would you have chosen?
If I wasn’t teaching, I would be sending people to the moon or Mars as an aerospace engineer.
Growing up, who was your most inspirational teacher and why?
My American Lit teacher in high school inspired me to read and love the American classics. He also taught me how to write a wicked research paper which helped me in college and in my career.
What impact or legacy do you hope to leave to your students?
I want my students to NOT be afraid of math. I want them to feel comfortable and confident with working through math processes. I hope to instill a love for math and maybe/hopefully inspire them to follow a path toward a career that involves math.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement as a teacher so far?
I have high school seniors who come back to visit me and tell me that their love for math developed after having me as their math teacher in elementary and middle school.