Upper School Math Teacher
Know Your Pelicans
What do you teach? What is one of your favorite parts of the curriculum?
I teach 11th Grade Precalculus and 12th Grade AT Calculus I & II. One of my favorite things about Packer’s Upper School math curriculum is its ability to foster genuine inquiry and curiosity among students. In our classes, students are primarily responsible for discovering mathematical truths, framing them in their own terms, and sharing them with their peers.
Besides your subject, what’s something you hope to teach your students?
I hope to teach my students how to be empathetic global citizens. I believe that math teachers have just as great a responsibility as humanities teachers to promote global literacy in the classroom. Mathematics is a universal language that can be used to effect positive social change. Mathematics provides a very discerning lens through which we can inspect our world.
What is something that most Packer people wouldn't know about you?
I majored in astrophysics in college, and I worked at NASA for a few months before coming to Packer. I was primarily using telescopes in Australia to search for black holes in the center of our galaxy. I still occasionally collaborate with this research group, and I love to bring bits of astrophysics into my math classes at Packer!
What is your favorite space on campus and why?
I love the old wooden stairs in Founder's Hall on the way up to the Upper School Math Office. I look forward to my walk upstairs every morning — the creaky floorboards are a strong reminder of Packer’s history in Brooklyn.