This year, Castaic’s math department gained a fresh, fiery spark of energy with the arrival of Dr. Karapetyan, the school’s newest Algebra teacher.
Though new to Castaic, she’s no stranger to the power of thinking critically, constructing mathematical arguments in writing, and exploring STEM disciplines.
Originally from Armenia, Dr. K discovered her passion for teaching during her college years, heavily influenced by her calculus math teacher. She states “She is the one who inspired me to become a teacher. When I worked with her, she was really good at explaining things.”
She eventually pursued her education degree at UCLA, where she focused on receiving her bachelor’s, master’s degree, along with her teaching credential, and began building the teaching philosophy she brings into the classroom today.
“I don’t believe there’s a math person,” she states in regards to her personal philosophy when it comes to students who struggle. “I believe all the kids that come to me can actually be very good at math.”
She believes that the reason why students tend to struggle with math is mostly because of “their previous experiences, whether it was in elementary school, or at home.”
“Sometimes they are led to believe that they can’t do math, so they believe they’re not math people. But, I believe there is no such thing.”
Instead of relying solely on lectures, she often incorporates functions, matrices, linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, and so forth to show that Algebra isn’t just a set of rules, it’s a language for understanding patterns and solving real problems.
When describing her teaching style, she states, “[I’m] very structured. I have very neat and organized notes that I make for the kids. And I would like to think [I’m] funny and chill..”
An abundance of her students say they truly appreciate the balance of challenge and encouragement, along with the patience Dr. K typically shows when working through tough concepts.
However, there’s more to this teacher than just equations and graphing. Outside of class, Dr. K enjoys reading mystery novels, and stated she surprisingly does crochet.
Her goal is to build relationships not only within the classroom, but throughout the school community. “My schedule is very difficult and it’s been kind of crazy and tough, but interesting,” she added, sharing her thoughts for the year.
As the semester unfolds, Dr. K is eager to see students grow more confident in their math abilities, and discover the satisfaction that comes from solving difficult problems step by step.
With her fresh perspective and passionate attitude, she’s already becoming a standout presence at Castaic, one equation at a time.
