About the Author
I spent ten years working as a mathematician in academia and industry. I did a PhD in algebraic topology. I never found my footing in that field, and then switched fields to applied math as a postdoc where I researched machine learning algorithms from a geometric perspective. I spent a brief stint working for a company doing algorithm development for AI applications. I also spent time as a graduate intern doing data science. But, a big fat salary doesn’t mean much in the face of burnout, and so I decided to become a high school math teacher.
Going back to high school math was like a hypothermia-inducing plunge into icy water. My perspective on mathematics has changed so much since I was a student, but the education system has not. As a student I thought that math was a series of courses to master. Stairs to climb. I thought that Algebra was the content in the Algebra textbook. It’s not.
As I looked through the district pacing guides, syllabuses, and textbook problems my fears were confirmed. No one actually thinks about math in the way that a standard high school textbook presents the subject. At the very least, I want to share with my students the ideas and skills that have helped me solve real problems. I want to share the math that get me excited. If I’m not excited to talk about it with students, they will not be excited to learn about it in class.
I refuse to believe that the role of a math educator in the 21st century is to help students when they get stuck on a Sal Khan problem. For God’s sake, just click the “hint” button!
I hope I don’t sound too much like a cheap knock off of Paul Lockhart, Conrad Wolfram, or Jo Boaler. Since deciding to take the plunge in education, their writings have influenced my thoughts on math ed. I hope that this blog allows me to develop my own voice, and you, the reader, will find something useful here.