Hayden Prescott Corwin ’15
THE ROUNDUP
The math and science departments acquired new members this year that show promise of advancing the classroom experience.
The new members of the departments are Mr. Kevin Burke, Ms. Breanne Toshner and Mr. Chris Stevens ’85.
Mr. Burke is a science teacher and is teaching Chemistry.
“He is a veteran teacher…he has many years of high school chemistry experience already, teaching all levels from regular to AP, even some earth science,” said Assistant Principal for Technology and Instruction Mr. Jim Bopp.
This year Mr. Burke and Mr. Andy Mazzolini have been working together to create educational videos explaining concepts that students can utilize inside and outside of Brophy.
“They are creating some video lessons so that they can post them online and do some of the video instruction online so they have more time to do some of the more challenging problems in class,” Mr. Bopp said.
Mr. Burke said that the videos would be a way for students to look at a lesson and be able to learn a subject in a more condensed manner.
Ms. Toshner is another teacher who brings her own style and experience into the classroom.
“She has already brought a lot to us because she comes to us as an electrical engineer and one of our big concerns here at Brophy is always making sure that the things that we are teaching are relevant and can be applied,” Mr. Bopp said. “Mathematics is one of those things where it’s really important for students to have a sense of what we can do with this and how this can be used in the real world.”
Students have seen her engineering background transfer into her teaching.
“Because of her background in engineering she seems to teach each subject with more energy and enthusiasm than most other teachers,” said Jackman Rice ’15.
Bringing real life experience as an engineer is not the only advantage of having Ms. Toshner as a teacher on campus.
“She has also brought a lot of great energy,” Mr. Bopp said. “In fact, she is already doing more stuff in terms of technology and using technology in the way that she teaches or instructs in her classroom as I am or as most veteran teachers here are, so when she came in, she started using all of our best technology tricks.”
Another teacher that has actually taught at Brophy before is Mr. Stevens.
Mr. Stevens came from a school in Colorado that has utilized the iPad.
“I think the iPads provide more visual reinforcement of what we teach,” Mr. Stevens said. “It also allows for very quick and easy reference, so instead of waiting to go home and look something up (students) can access it right now.”
His experience with the iPad has given him time to figure out some technology tricks too.
“He came in with a lot of new ideas and resources for how to use technology in the classroom as well,” Mr. Bopp said.
Mr. Bopp said that Mr. Stevens is also finding ways to inspire and help students inside and outside of the classroom.