Biography

Chris has devoted his entire career to math education. After he was awarded a Math for America fellowship and full scholarship to Bard College, he taught in three different public schools in New York City. During this time, he was granted a Master Teacher Fellowship and was named a finalist for the Big Apple Award, the city’s most prestigious recognition. He served as a mentor for apprentice and first-year teachers, attended the Park City Math Institute twice, and many professional development workshops for his colleagues and for the larger teaching community. He was also a classroom specialist for the City University of New York’s Tutor Corps, an experience that placed him in schools in all five boroughs supporting math teachers and the tutors he trained and supervised.

Specifically, Chris is most passionate about helping his students discover mathematics and pedagogical ideas. He’s committed to the notion that students absorb and apply their newfound knowledge best when they unearth content themselves, whether it’s learning how to count, calculate standard deviation, or create a classroom culture which supports all learners. As such, he loves planning and facilitating activities such as games, jigsaws, discussions, debates, and roleplays in his classroom in which students play and develop these concepts, procedures, and formulas.

When not teaching, Chris can be found eating his way through his new adopted city of New Orleans, playing volleyball and board games, and staging electrifying yet out-of-tune karaoke performances.

What advice would you give to someone who's considering finishing their degree, or starting for the first time as an adult?
Obtaining a degree is a truly fulfilling experience. On one hand, it feels selfish: everyone gets the choice and freedom to grow in the ways they desire and experience a great satisfaction from completing it. But once the coursework is done, we get to apply this knowledge to helping those in our sphere of influence. Our newfound knowledge helps us broaden our own horizons, which allow us to better educate others, improve our work environments, become more informed citizens.

Ultimately, it's one of the most fulfilling things you can do.

If you could be on any reality TV show, which would you choose and why?
The Amazing Race is a guilty pleasure of mine. I'd love the challenge of running around the world and interacting to people, food, art, and architecture in different cultures, all while completing a bunch of obstacles.

What's the first career you dreamed of having as a child?
It's embarrassing, but apparently, a game show host. It kind of makes sense, given that I love teaching math and pedagogy through games and discovery.