students at Hofstra University

Alexandar Nantsis

What prompted your interest in Math education?
As the sibling of a child with autism, I took it upon myself to help my younger brother with his homework for school. My younger brother especially struggled with math, and those challenges forced me to adapt the way I would explain concepts to him. Something about these experiences sparked my passion for teaching. I pride myself on being able to articulate abstract topics in ways that others will be able to understand, and this set of skills is vital in mathematics education. I find teaching to be an extremely fulfilling profession; every day is an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a student.

What prompted your interest in the Noyce Program?
I was first approached about joining the Noyce Program by Dr. Mammo (who was my professor for calc III at the time). After I did some research on the program, I realized that this was a great opportunity to prepare myself for a career in mathematics education and gladly joined the program.

What were some highlights of the program
I have attended several workshops and summer institutes during my time with the Noyce Program. I also attended a Noyce conference in Boston a few years ago. The thing I enjoyed the most about these events was that there were so many amazing in-service teachers who were able to share their classroom experiences with us. There are always amazing guest speakers at these events who provide varied perspectives on education. During these workshops and summer institutes, I was able to learn so much about teaching that I never learned in a college class and will always carry these lessons with me throughout my teaching career.

What grade/courses do you teach at Westbury High School?
Due to overcrowding at Westbury High School, the Westbury School District decided to open a 9th grade Annex, which is located on the property of Nassau Community College. I am one of three math teachers at the Annex, and I teach Common Core Algebra 1 and Geometry.

What do you like most about teaching there? And about teaching in general?
The thing I enjoy the most about working in Westbury is that everyone is very welcoming. So many other faculty members (administrators, teachers, etc.) have reached out to me and have made me feel like I am truly a part of the Westbury community. It is a privilege to work in such a positive environment. With regard to teaching, it has been great to interact with students. So many of my students have already expressed that they look forward to math class now because they enjoy the way I teach. This has been an amazing start to my teaching career.

Alexander Nantsis