Saint Michael's College

Mathematics Alumni in Education Careers

Thomas Raymond '08

I am currently a math teacher at Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans, Vermont, replacing a teacher who is on maternity leave. 

My Saint Michael's math education has helped me for my career as a teacher because it has given me the knowledge and background to be able to teach a wide range classes, from algebra all the way up through calculus.  Studying math at a higher level helped to give me perspective and insight on how many topics can be considered at different levels, such as college and high school, yet the approach that is taken when studying these concepts is totally different.  For example, the way that a high school Algebra I class looks at addition and multiplication properties (associative, commutative, identity, inverse, and distributive) are very different from how a real analysis or an abstract algebra class may consider these topics.  Yet, by having this higher mathematical education, I have been given insight into how important these topics are to study at any level. 
 
Another way that my Saint Michael's math education has helped me with my career is that it has disciplined me to be focused.  I am proud of attaining my bachelor's degree in mathematics because I worked hard and I was dedicated to doing my best.  I think this hard work will continue to transfer into my teaching, as I strive to be a dedicated and caring teacher.

Theresa Ryan '07

I am currently teaching at Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA. It is a private, co-ed, boarding school and I absolutely love it. I am teaching Math 1 and 3, which basically is Algebra 1 and Algebra 2/Pre-Calc. It is a bit of a different curriculum here. I am also a dorm parent and I coach Girl's JV Soccer and Varsity Softball. I have been attending conferences and have been as involved as possilbe to continuously improve our courses.

I also plan to start graduate school part-time. I am going to be taking classes at Harvard Extension School in Cambridge, MA. I will be pursuing a degree in Mathematics for Teaching and hopefully working toward my professional liscensure .

Saint Michael's really helped my confidence level as I moved into the real world. My mathematics professors showed true dedication and helped me pursue my goals every step of the way. They are my role models as I begin my own teaching career.

Tate Shippen '07

I am a high school mathematics teacher and math team coach at a small public school just outside of Boston. I currently instruct 97 students in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. I also help coach the middle school and high school math teams, as well as the Ultimate Frisbee Club.

I have also applied for the graduate program at Salem State College for the Fast Track Math Certification Program, and will be applying to the Master's in Education program following completion.

The Saint Mike's math program gave me the mathematical background that I need to provide an in-depth education to high school students. I have used topics from many of the classes I took at Saint  Mike's (Number Theory, and the History of Mathematics, to name a few) to get students interested and engaged in the material for the classes I teach.

Wayne Younghans '07

I am a mathematics teacher at Colchester High School in Colchester, Vermont, working in a department of seven math teachers. Currently I teach Geometry and Algebra II.  

My mathematics education at Saint Michael's was vital to my current position.  Most importantly, my math major taught me the importance of hard work and stick-to-itiveness. It also showed me the importance of collaboration and colleagueship.  I was fortunate not only to have great professors, but also to have great peers in my math classes at Saint Mike's.  This was great, because my peers and I spent a lot of time working together on assignments, and this is also very true for my current position.  If I could not work well with the other teachers and math department, I would not be able to do my job successfully. 

There were also certain classes at Saint Michael's that really linked the bond of mathematics and education for me, which are my two passions.  I think of my Mathematics Education Seminar and History of Mathematics.  These are classes that I think about often still, when planning my current lesson plans.  Classes like these helped me to add my own personality and enthusiasm to my own classroom.

Diana Coulter '06

This is my third year at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack, New York.  I received tenure which I was very excited about.  I also received a grant for "Math Bingo" which is a game I implement in my classroom in order to help students review material in a more fun and exciting way.  

I am currently attending St. Thomas Acquinas College getting my master's in special education.  I have a year left before I complete the program. 

I think that the most important thing I learned from the math department at Saint Mike's was the willingness of the professors to help students at any time.  I think that many math professors at Saint Mike's have a open-door policy.  Although every professor has specific office hours I could get help at any time of any day as long as I asked for help.  I carried this into my teaching career and I try to be as available to my studnts as often as possible because I think that fostering relationships with students is a major key to academic success.

Ben Epstein '05

I am a mathematics teacher at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, Vermont. After having worked mostly with high school juniors and seniors in Probability and Statistics, Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, and Math of Finance, I am now in a position in the Chittenden Core working with freshman (CVU splits their freshman class into four houses, where the core curriculum of math, science, English/writing and social studies/history is taught by four teachers from each discipline).

I was very fortunate to attend Saint Michael's. I believe because of the small class sizes and close relationshps with faculty that the quality of instruction I received was excellent.  As a result, the material I learned, I learned well, and I feel very comfortable in turn teaching those concepts to others.

Jessica Scheld '05 

I finished my master's at the University of Vermont in 2007 and moved to Boston, MA. I plan on returning to school at some point in the future to pursue a Ph.D. in math or economics. 

I currently teach at Boston Collegiate Charter School in Dorchester, MA. I teach algebra, geometry and precalculus (9th - 11th grades). I also teach Calculus at the University of Massachusetts, Boston at night.

Without the strong reasoning/logic skill that I gained at Saint Michael's, I would not be able to answer my students' questions as effectively. I learned teaching techniques from my professors, and gained the knowledge necessary to impart that on future generations.

Whitney Sherman '04

I am a mathematics teacher at a small public high school in Connecticut, and I am one of the four mathematics teachers there. I am passing on my knowledge and my excitement about mathematics to my students as well as helping to coach the girl’s soccer team.

After graduating from Saint Michael's and traveling cross country for 80 days, I started graduate school in Connecticut to obtain my Master's in Secondary Mathematics Education and CT Teaching Certification. My Praxis II exam focused on mathematics.

My Saint Michael's mathematics education helped me earn a score of excellence within the top 15 percent of all test takers. Saint Michael's did not only provide me with mathematical skills but with a passion for mathematics that I am thrilled to be able to share with my own students. In closing, I know that Saint Michael's College was a perfect fit for me and provided me with everything I needed to step confidently into the "real" work world.

Heather Rubenstein '03

I am currently in my fifth year as a math teacher at Woodstock Union High School in Woodstock, Vermont.  To date I have taught, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Intermediate Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry and Math for Life.  I have a wonderful job due to the students I teach.  The best part of my job is getting students who hate math and sending them into the summer loving math.  It is my goal to do that with every student. 

I have been coaching the varsity softball team for four years and middle school field hockey for three years.  I have been the treasurer for our local teacher's union for three years.  I am currently a co-advisor to class of 2011 at Woodstock Union High School.  I am the co-director of a local teen center that operates every Friday and Saturday night.  

I was awarded the 2008 UVM Outstanding Teacher Award given to teacher's in every district in Vermont. I also received an award from the Vermont Council of Teachers of Mathematics for excellence in teaching math. I am almost done with a Master's of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton.

I got my love of mathematics from my professors at Saint Mike's.  They were inspirational in how they loved math.  It was apparent in every class and the amount of time they put into students outside of class.  I am a better teacher because I had such great models at Saint Mike's.  The math program at Saint Mike's gave me an in-depth look into math that I thought I would never use because the highest math level at Woodstock Union High School is Calculus.  But I am amazed over and over again at the theory and specific explanation I can give my students because I had such a good math education at Saint Mike's.  I love explaining to my students that there is another type of geometry where parallel lines don't exist and we have a good class discussion about everything involved and how that would change the way we see the world.  It is also great to explain to my students topics like the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra and a bunch of other theorems and other postulates that allow my students to dive deeper into math.

Julie Harutunian '02

I am a mathematics teacher at Reading Memorial High School in Reading, MA. I originally worked at Putnam Investments for a year as a portfolio accounting analyst, before I changed paths and went into teaching. It was a great decision for me and I couldn’t be happier in the school in which I am working.

In order to teach in MA, I had to get my master's in education. It wasn't a problem at all to start taking education classes after graduation. Now, I am pursuing a second master's program in mathematics.

I couldn’t have been more prepared than I was leaving college. Besides what I learned in the classroom, I learned how to study, work independently and with other students. One of the things I liked best about our department was the small size. I became comfortable speaking with each of my professors and benefited greatly from everyone’s help.

In college, I worked several nights a week at the Help Sessions and I also did grading for a couple of semesters. These jobs gave me some experience with instruction before going into teaching. I learned early on the amount of patience teaching would entail.

Eric Langevin '02

I am a math teacher at Essex High School in Essex, VT.  I graduated from Saint Michael's College with a B.S. in math and a concentration in secondary education.  I graduated from the University of Vermont in 2007 with a Master's in Education focusing on curriculum and instruction.  At Essex High School I am also the varsity cross country coach and I also coach distance runners for indoor and outdoor track.

My math education at Saint Michael's prepared me for teaching math more than I thought it would.  Knowing higher level math and theory allows me to be a better teacher.  I am able to explain topics to students better and understand how concepts work.  The math professors are excellent people and educators.  I learned from them how to teach with passion. 

Patty Fogarty Clemons '01

I tutor high school students in math as a stay-at-home mother. I previously taught regular math and AP math courses at South Burlington High School. I intend to return to full-time teaching when my children are of school age.

Saint Michael’s was a great school for me to go to because it helped me to grow mathematically. Going to Saint Michael’s also opened the door to graduate school at the University of Vermont where I earned my master's degree in math. The math program at Saint Michael’s strengthened my math skills and gave me all the knowledge I would need to teach. It also showed me how to work with other people and how to work with teachers. The teachers were there for me all the time so I strive to do the same thing for my students.

Jennifer Hartell Christiansen '00

I am currently a 7th grade mathematics teacher at Winman Junior High School in Warwick, Rhode Island. I have taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. I am also graduate school at Providence College where I am studying to become a school guidance counselor.

My mathematics education from Saint Michael’s has provided me with a very strong mathematical foundation. I do not necessarily use the higher level mathematics in my teaching, but it has strengthened my understanding of the subject matter that I do teach and therefore makes it easier for me to teach my students. My mathematics education has also been helpful in discussing concepts and ideas with some of my colleagues. Saint Michael's has a very good reputation and often times helped me stand out when applying or interviewing for jobs when being compared to other applicants from larger colleges and universities.

Lisa Keller '93

I am an Assistant Professor in the Research and Evaluation Methods Program in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  Before this, I taught math in grades 7-12 for four years. I went back to graduate school and received a doctorate in psychometric methods and a master’s degree in mathematics and statistics. Then, I got a job at the University of Massachusetts, in which I teach statistics to social scientists and pursue research in psychometrics. My primary research focus is applying mathematical models to response data from large-scale assessments. 

I love my job, and I know that my education at Saint Michael's College helped me attain my goals. The small classes and availability of professors encouraged me to deepen my mathematical skills and to give me the confidence necessary to pursue doctoral level study.

Gina Fabiano Mathews '91

I am the Mathematics Department Chairperson and Master Scheduler at Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, MA. I have completed an MAT from Emanuel College in Boston and a CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study) in Education Leadership from Bridgewater State College. I am currently looking into obtaining an Ed.D. in Education Leadership with a possible focus on Curriculum and Instruction.

At Saint Michael's, the caring professors of both the math and education departments solidified my decision to pursue a career in education.

Jon Matte '91

I am Chair of the Mathematics Department at Greens Farms Academy, a K-12, independent day school in Connecticut. After graduating as Valedictorian from Saint Michael's, I completed a master’s degree in mathematics from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo and was a full-time mathematics instructor at Sacred Heart University. Since then, I have been a mathematics teacher and department chair at GFA. I have presented at numerous conferences in such pedagogical areas as magic and card/number-based tricks. My other passion is lateral-thinking "Puzzle Hunts" (like the MIT Mystery Hunt).

When looking back at my time at Saint Michael's, I realize that it was mostly the interaction with the faculty and students that helped me confirm that I wanted to teach. Overall, I received a good mindset to troubleshoot, remain calm, and think things through. My advice to those seeking a career with a mathematics degree is: Find some corner of the math world, and explore and be passionate about at least that one thing. 

See Jon's profile on the Mathematics Association of America Web site.