Mathematics Department

List of 17 members.

• 

  Ms. Sheila Walsh 10

  Mathematics Teacher/Department Chair

  Bio

  Following in her father’s footsteps, Sheila Walsh ‘10 made Saint Ignatius College Prep her high school home. Little did she know that decision would lead her to her life’s work.

  
  

  “I absolutely loved my teachers here in high school. They were the best and actually inspired me to be a teacher. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have been a teacher at all,” says Walsh.

  
  

  The educator who inspired her most? Math teacher Lynne Ruozzi. 

  
  

  Ruozzi’s passion for sharing information made Walsh more interested in math than any other discipline. 

  
  

  She says, “I love that math is everywhere, and I love the problem-solving aspect.” 

  
  

  That aspect, according to Walsh, is what can help regardless of the career you choose. She points out that you take math to develop problem-solving skills which you can apply to real-life situations. 

  
  

  “You have to feel confident that you can do whatever task is in front of you,” Walsh emphasizes, “You don’t have to love math, you just have to know you can do it.”

  
  The alum who was inspired by a Saint Ignatius teacher now hopes to light a fire with  her own students – giving them essential problem-solving skills to help them tackle challenges the world will inevitably send their way.
• 

  Mr. Gregory Beatty 

  Math Resource Center Facilitator
• 

  Ms. Jennifer Boka 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Mrs. Kathryn Borg 

  Mathematics Teacher

  Bio

  Ms. Kathryn Borg describes herself as “a second-career teacher.” After nineteen years in management and technology, she earned her second master’s degree and began teaching high school mathematics. 

  
  

  Her experience applying mathematical concepts in a professional setting means that her students learn how concepts like geometric logic or response bias guide the world of technology and business. Ms. Borg’s Geometry Honors students, for example, have used geometric principles to learn how to draw simple circuits. 

  
  

  In addition to the application of mathematical theory, Ms. Borg aims to foster student collaboration and teach material that is engaging and unique. You can see all three of these objectives on display just by looking at the walls in Ms. Borg’s classroom.

  
  

  Ms. Borg and her AP Statistics students have hung dot plots from simulations completed for group projects in Room 154. The titles of these graphs are both irreverent and informative: “Does Beyonce write her own lyrics?” and “How much do people like Taylor Swift?” particularly stand out. 

  
  

  Students in Ms. Borg’s class can expect to work in tandem with their classmates frequently. Whether working at the whiteboard on a geometry proof, or determining if there is a statistical difference in the proportion of orange M&M’s and Skittles, Ms. Borg’s students report that working with a partner results in better understanding and retention of the topic.

  
  

   But what is the best compliment that a student can give her? Ms. Borg says she loves  to hear, “I learned a lot in your class!”
• 

  Ms. Margaret Brewick 

  Mathematics Teacher

  Bio

  Teaching in Catholic schools runs in the family for Ms. Meg Brewick. “Both of my parents, my sister and my brother have taught at Catholic high schools or colleges,” she shares. “So of course I want to teach at a school rooted in the Catholic faith like Saint Ignatius College Prep.”

  
  

  Indeed, it is the presence of faith in the school’s day-to-day activities that Ms. Brewick cherishes. “Faith is something that is central to each day here,” she says. “The Jesuit mission is such a stabilizing force. It grounds us each day in purpose.” The presence of Jesuit faith can be seen in daily Masses or the community Examen each afternoon. 

  
  

  Students in Ms. Brewick’s Geometry Honors and AP Calculus AB classrooms will find themselves engaging not just with the class material, but with each other. Her classes begin with a question-of-the-day icebreaker - today’s was “What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?” - and students will frequently work in groups to complete projects and assignments.

  
  

  But the crucial component to Ms. Brewick's pedagogical mission is critical thinking. “I want to turn my students from dependent thinkers to independent thinkers,” she explains. “Jesuit institutions value critical thinking, and I want my students to struggle with and think critically about the material. I want them to know how to reach conclusions and gain knowledge on their own.”
• 

  Mr. Stephen Cahill 

  Math Teacher
• 

  Mr. Sean Curtin 11

  Mathematics Teacher

  Bio

  Mr. Sean Curtin ‘11 describes the Saint Ignatius College Prep community like a home. “You know how at your home there are those little improvement projects you find to do?” he asks. “I have those projects here. That is how I know that this campus is a home to me.”

  
  

  Mr. Curtin’s been a member of the Wolfpack for four years as a student and seven years as a teacher. “I’ve been part of this community for about a third of my life,” he shares. “I have a memory in just about every hallway, classroom and field across this campus.”

  
  

  Mr. Curtin realized how essential the Saint Ignatius community was to him when he arrived at university. “I found at college that many of my peers had different experiences in high school from the one I had. I felt a gratitude for this place that I didn’t feel when I was a student for the teachers, coaches and classmates who really helped me grow.”

   

  Mr. Curtin was a soccer player when he was a student and was coached and taught by Mr. James Luzzi, one of the many faculty members he credits for inspiring him to return to campus to teach. He followed in Mr. Luzzi’s footsteps and currently coaches JV boy’s soccer and teaches Algebra and Calculus.

  
  

  Participation and application are Mr. Curtin’s key focuses in the classroom. “I aim to create an environment where my students are comfortable taking risks and challenging themselves,” he says. On the subject of application, he notes, “I learned how to apply mathematics to the non-academic world during my master’s degree work. So, in my classroom, we’re going to be applying every concept that we learn to something.”
• 

  Mrs. Heather DeJonker 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Mr. Tom Dorrance 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Dr. Anthony Evensen Ph.D. 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Ms. Connie Koustenis 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Ms. Alexandra Lehan 

  Mathematics Teacher

  Bio

  “I believe that one’s profession should be the intersection of the world's needs and your interests,” shares Ms. Alexandra Lehan. “For me, that intersection is teaching mathematics.”

  
  

  Ms. Lehan’s Algebra and Geometry classes operate under an “I do, you do, we do” method of teaching that encourages collaboration. “I want my students to talk to one other and work together to solve problems,” she says. “I see my classroom as a collaborative problem-solving environment where students can find multiple different ways to solve a problem.” 

  
  

  Ms. Lehan is the moderator of Saint Ignatius’ Coding Club. She describes the Coding Club as a place where younger students develop core computer science skills and where upperclassmen can pursue, and possibly publish their own projects as well as help younger students with challenging coding problems. 

  
  

  When asked why she chose Saint Ignatius College Prep as her teaching home, Ms. Lehan will tell you two things: the faith and the students. “Faith is integrated into everything we do at school. Retreats and daily masses are pillars of our community,” she shares. “We also have extremely hard-working and driven students. I want to challenge them and help them reach new heights.”
• 

  Mr. James Owens 81

  Mathematics & Social Studies Teacher
• 

  Ms. Nicola Steele 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Mr. Todd Strobel 

  Mathematics & Science Teacher, Head Boys Volleyball Coach
• 

  Mr. Patrick Winter 

  Mathematics Teacher
• 

  Ms. Amy Zabojnik 

  Mathematics Teacher

  Bio

  The apple didn’t fall far from the tree when Amy Zabojnik decided to teach.

  
  

  Both of her parents were educators and encouraged her to join the ranks. Given her natural strength in math, that became her focus. 

  
  

  Zabojnik loves teaching because of the students.

  
  

  “They care about you, and they know you care about them,” says Zabojnik.

  
  

  She hopes her students know she’s there to help them grow in the classroom, and she’s rooting for them personally as well. She wants them to succeed in all aspects of life, not just in mathematics.

  
  

  She leads by example, and works to be well-rounded. It’s not unusual to hear folks refer to Zabojnik as a “supermom.” On any given day you’ll see her taking her kids to and from various sports and extracurricular activities, preparing meals and spending time with her family. 

  
  

  Outside of the house, her favorite place is the gym. Her passion for fitness runs deep – so deep she wakes up at 3:30 a.m. to be at her workout by 4:00 a.m!

  
  

  Then it’s off to school, which has become a family affair. Zabojnik says she was thrilled when her two sons decided to join the Wolfpack. From firsthand experience, she knows that “the kids here are truly amazing.”

  
  

  Her message to students: Make good choices, and don’t make decisions based on temporary feelings.