Q. How long have you been teaching here? Can you give a little background on how you got into teaching?
A. So I have been here since 1993. I used to be an actuary when I got out of U of I. I have a math degree, and then I did that for a while, then I decided I want to do something different. So I came back to school, and this is my first job after I went back to grad school, and I just stayed.
Q. What inspired you to be a teacher?
A. I always liked math, and when I was working in corporate America, I liked training people. Then I got a little bit older, and I thought I wanted to do something. I don’t know there’s lots of trite words for it, but something that was a little more connected with helping people.
Q. Looking back on your career, what would you say you’re most proud of?
A. I think I’m happy I chose what I did. I hope I got to meet a lot of interesting people and that a lot of interesting people who were growing up and got to think a lot about how they thought about numbers. That was definitely more inspirational than staying in corporate America.
Q. How have students influenced your life? How has teaching influenced your life?
A. I think I’m a good teacher because teaching is good for me, and I think I’m a better parent because I’m a teacher, and I’m a better teacher because I’m a parent. And those things kind of go when you first start, all you know is your experience. And then the more you teach, you can think about other students you’ve met, and then you have your own children, and you can think about their experience in school, and they all kind of help you learn more and grow more, even when you’re 60.
Q. What’s one lesson you would say you’ve learned from your students?
A. From my students, I think I’ve learned just to be a little braver, to try different things.
Q. What would you say you think are the biggest challenges coming up?
A. I think we’ve only added things to students and teachers plates and not taken anything off. The fundamental time I had with students, and how many things they had to sort of think about, is the same as when I started, and we’ve learned all these extra things they have to think about and deal with, and never given either side time to really hope that it will be different for people.
Q. What are your retirement plans?
A. I’m just going to try and take a year and decompress. My mom’s getting a little bit older, so I’m looking forward to seeing her doing more things with her. Both my daughters will be done with school, and they’re on the East Coast. I’m looking forward to being able to go to school and see them whenever I want. Those are the two things I’m looking forward to.
