Mr. Partington, a new math teacher at Richwoods, teaches Geometry Enriched, Math Lit, and AP Calculus in room 410. He graduated from the University of Arizona and has experience in both tutoring and teaching. Here’s what he had to say about his teaching experience and why he chose Richwoods, and his goals for the year.
When I asked Mr. Partington what he enjoys the most about teaching, he said that seeing students discover their own capabilities is the best part of teaching. He also said how rewarding it is to watch students start to believe they can tackle difficult problems, both in and out of the classroom. He said, “It reminds me why I do what I do,”
Before coming to Richwoods, Mr. Partington taught at Dunlap High School. He said that Richwoods feels more like the type of school he attended as a kid and appreciates the way the school encourages students to realize their potential and that he wanted to be part of that culture.
Mr. Partington is originally from Martinsburg, West Virginia, this is his second year in the Peoria area. He attended college in Tucson, Arizona, where he earned his degree in Mathematics with a focus on Secondary Education. I later asked why he chose to teach math, he said that his initial goal was to become a college math professor. However, it required a Ph.D. and he was already burnt out because of college after earning his bachelor’s degree. During college, he had the chance to be a TA and work in a tutoring lab, which led him to discover his passion for teaching math more than doing it himself. So, he chose to become a high school teacher instead.
Mr. Partington’s favorite math topics to teach are those that offer students the flexibility to approach problems in various ways. He enjoys seeing students grow as thinkers and individuals when they have freedom in their methods, rather than sticking to a specific method for solving problems.
Looking ahead to the rest of the school year, Mr. Partington said he’s most excited to get to know both the staff and his students better. He described how being new to the school is both challenging and rewarding and how he’s eager to continue settling into his role at Richwoods.
We’re excited to have Mr. Partington here at Richwoods.
