As a high school math teacher, I discovered my passion for helping students overcome math anxiety by teaching math as a process, rather than focusing on speed and correctness—two factors that don’t foster true mathematical understanding. Now, as the mathematics program coordinator supporting teachers and districts in Sonoma County, I’m grateful for the opportunity to extend that work by creating conditions that empower adult learners to thrive. By supporting educators as professionals, I aim to help them embrace learning as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event, while also working to align the systems they operate within to support this approach.”
Rick’s Story
Teaching Discipline
Mathematics
Why Mathematics
“In high school, I struggled with mathematics because there was an emphasis on rote learning and memorization. When I got to college, I realized that mathematics was a rich field of study. There are so many connections and so many different ways to represent a situation using mathematics. I decided to become a math teacher because I wanted to help high school students experience all that mathematics has to offer.”
Professional Experience
Rick taught high school mathematics for six years and middle school mathematics for two years. Now, as the Program Coordinator for Mathematics at the Sonoma County Office of Education, he supports teachers, schools, and districts in implementing transformational changes that enhance student learning outcomes in mathematics.
Hobbies
Rick enjoys camping, reading, gardening, and exploring the California coast.
Academic Background
- University of California, Santa Cruz (Master of Arts in Education)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics)