Currently Teaching: Math 3 Plus, Probability & Statistics, and AP Statistics

Total Years Taught: 9

Other places taught besides SBHS: Gailer School (2006-2007), Rock Point School (2007-2010)

Years at SBHS: 5th year

Professional accolades received as a high school math teacher: Crock Pot Captain, Laser Cutter Aficionado

Other jobs besides teaching math at SBHS: “Tech Guru” (a.k.a. Network Administrator) at Rock Point School, Burlington City Arts Instructor, Researcher at UVM, Adventure Trip Leader at YMCA Camp Abnaki

Other formal roles (besides math teacher) taken on at SBHS: Lead Sophomore Advisor

Why did you decide to become a high school math teacher? I love solving problems and working with a diverse group of people. I also hope to recreate the great and challenging math education that I received from elementary school through graduate school

If you had to sum up your philosophy on teaching and learning math in a few sentences, what would you say? Math is such a creative endeavor – finding elegant solutions to complex problems is as much of an art form as any of the more traditional expressions.

What is something interesting that people may not know about you? My elementary school was a two room schoolhouse; I was the only kindergartener. My love of math started then as a competition of sorts because I was jealous of my best friend Kaili, who was in first grade’s math homework assignments. I begged the teacher to let me do the same work as her.

What were you like in high school? I was a bit of an overachiever…

What interests do you pursue outside of your professional life? Lots of seasonal outdoor things: mountain biking, swimming, and gardening in the summer, backcountry skiing in the winter, foraging for wild foods (berries, ramps, maple syrup, etc.), and traveling, and making all sorts of things.

Other information about you that you would like to share: Little known fact: I have no middle name. Harootunian is long enough.