Interviewer: Elizabeth. Interviewee: Mr. Taylor. 

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Q: Did you like math as a kid? 

A: Yes, I did like math as a kid! But I liked lots of other things too, like reading, science, and history. I was curious about a lot of things. In general, I liked school. 

Q: What made you want to become a math teacher? 

A: In college I studied math and computer science, which were a good match. I liked sharing my ideas about math with my friends, then my co-workers, and now with students. I just love ideas. 

Q: Why did you choose to work at Coe? 

A: Before I worked at Coe, I volunteered and did some student teaching at a few different schools in Seattle. Of all these schools I liked Coe the best, and I’m so happy I got to work here! The teachers, the administrators, and the staff here are all the BEST (the students are pretty amazing too!).

Q: What do you like most about teaching math? 

A: In most classes I teach, I get to share ideas and problems that I don’t know the answers to myself. So what happens is that I end up learning many things from the students. I love that, that is my favorite thing. 

Q: What are some challenges to teaching math and how do you overcome them?

A: I have a few challenges. Because I’m not super fast, and I want to make sure everything is mostly right, it takes me long time to put together a lesson. Luckily, I have the internet and many math books I can consult to research the ideas we talk about in class each day. 

Q: What is one of your hidden talents? 

A: This is a hard question! I don’t really have any hidden talents, though I can sometimes turn red traffic lights green by staring at them for a long time. 

Q: What are some pets you’ve had or would like to own? 

A: Our family owns some incredibly cute ponies. Horses each have their own personality, and I’ve learned you can become their best friends by giving them treats. I’m also a big fan of lynxes, axolotls, and capybaras. 

Q: How much do you work at Coe? 

A: Every year my schedule is different. Before 2017 I worked in every class one day a week in grades 3,4, and 5. I worked on report cards, had office hours for students, and had websites for each class. Now I mostly work on request, which means one day a week. (Coe Students work harder than I do!) 

Q: What’s the hardest math problem you know? 

A: I think the hardest math problem I know is this: Are there three whole numbers A, B, and C such that AxAxA+ BxBxB=CxCxC? It seems like a simple problem, but its incredibly difficult to solve. Spoiler Alert! There are no solutions! 

Q: If you had enough money to retire would you? A: I think that if you had enough money to retire, then that means you could spend your time doing what you really enjoy – something that helps people, and is a lot of fun. Well, I think teaching at Coe is all those things, so I guess if I had enough money to retire I would still work at Coe.