The Tale of the White Math Teacher

From previous posts, and my obvious profile picture, I am pretty much the whitest guy you can ever meet. I grew up in the country, riding horses, bailing hay, tending gardens, and lived my first years on a plot of roughly 15 acres of land. My high school had a total of 318 students, 7th-12th grade, and I graduated with 62 other people in my class. Our school was far less diverse than anyone could even imagine.

I graduated from a small private Catholic college, with about 400 other students, and made my way to York, PA to teach at an urban district, for my one and only major career choice, teaching mathematics.

I would like to say that I am not a racist, that I have never done or said anything that could be recognized as negative to my fellow man, but I am not perfect. I grew up around people who said, "Don't go into the city, you know what kind of people are there!" or "All the Mexicans have come in to work and it's becoming an unfit town!" or "All of those people are the same!"

When I started my job in York City, a few people asked if I was going to take a gun to school. I have read news articles that have called my school building "Wild Zoo"! I remember watching the beginning of the #BlackLivesMatter Movement, saying, "YEAH! Let's go for Equality!", but I did not do anything else.

Before I moved to York not once in my life did I question, or stand up for a person of color, or a minority who was being discriminated against. I just rolled with the comment. I was a white guy who did not understand… That has all changed! I am an ally for my students, parents and coworkers!

Wearing Black to Support our neighboring 

SOC's in a rough time, Dated 2016. 

I have challenged myself to become better in recent years and look for more views on education from outside sources, my favorites most days are on my Twitter Account. There I have been challenged to think more on the white washed version I have had on history education, as well as how to incorporate more successes from BIPOC in history, and not just the white washed version I have been given. 

I have incorporated the study of Fractals into my own Geometry Curriculum, and have shown students that places in Africa have been using Fractal Geometry for centuries in their creation of their villages. We also look at how recursive self-similarity is important in computer graphic imaginary, game design and coding. (See a list of YouTube Videos I use here: Fractal Playlist)

From my outlook, my students deserve a caring, respectful teacher willing to listen to their circumstances, understanding of their humanity and community! I will always be an advocate for my students, and make sure the relationships I form with them are one the basis of respect. I will help them find their learning path, and engage in more lessons that help my students discover their place in this world!

Leading Teachers through PD

As a part of our High School's Distributed Leadership (DL) Team, I have been given the opportunity to lead in new capacities for the past four years.  I have been trained for three years on the ways of developing teacher skills and school climate.  The team and I use the time allocated for our DL team to help bring Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to life and advocate for using best practices while creating Professional Development (PD) for our staff.

One such day was last January when I lead our Department Meeting time and showcased using QR Codes for staff to get students working and engaged in their classrooms.  I modeled one use, by having staff get into groups of 4 and walk around our building scanning QR Codes about the process of using QR Codes in the classroom, while they went around with a group recording sheet.  (One person in each group at least had a QR Code Reader.) 

One teacher friend used QR Codes at the end of the
year, using the codes to tag a video for students
to listen and write in Spanish. 

It became a huge success and everyone involved said the time used was greatly appreciated and the activity very appropriate for their practices.  I revamped the whole project for a recent graduate course paper that I had to make a QR Code activity.  I used PowerPoint to give my posters some extra character and even attached all of the QR Code Sites I used in each slide. I then began thinking about what else I could teach them would be the best use of their time, but as we all know one does not professionally develop teachers.

QR Code Activity: 

QR Codes PowerPoint Slides

QR Code Blank Group Form

QR Code Group Form with Links

During a second PD, I led, involved looking at Google Sites to create a classroom website.  During this planned instruction I gave 10 minutes in demonstrating how to make a Google Site in Google Drive, then showcased my ever-changing work in progress Geometry Website.  Teachers were then placed in their departments to play with the Google Site creator and discuss possible uses for a site, what they would want to display or share with students and the world, etc.  Attached is my Google Site PD form that was shared out to all staff to work on and share ideas.   I designed the Google Doc to be informative, editable, and shareable for the information decided upon by each department. 

One of my takeaways from DL Trainings. 

Through leading teachers with Professional Development, I have become more secure in my knowledge of education and knowing what is good for both students and teachers in my building.  I hope to continue on this trend, leading and teaching all new skills that are easily adaptable for any classroom.

Please use and adapt any of the activities I have made for your school too!