Teacher Spotlight: Mr. Pham

I chose to do a spotlight on Mr. Pham because he’s my teacher this year. He’s also very funny and easy to relate to. Mr. Pham makes learning in his class comfortable because he's great at helping us understand the work.

Q: What did you do before teaching here at Mayfair High?

A: "I was a part time cashier at a gas station while attending college. I got my teaching credential in 2006 when I was just 23 years old and Mayfair was my first full time job."

Q: In total, how many classes do you teach and what grades?

A: "I teach five classes of IM3 and one class of IM1, all high school levels."

Q: How long have you been teaching?

A: "I have been teaching for 20 years and counting."

Q: If you didn’t teach math, what subjects would you teach?

A: "I love hands-on work, woodworking is one of my passions and hobbies. So if I didn't teach math, I would love to teach a woodworking class."

Q: What do you enjoy outside of teaching?

A: "I have a fondness for vintage scooters and motorcycles, I go riding every chance I get."

Q: Are you married? If so, how long?

A: "My wife and I have been together for seventeen years and married for twelve."

Q: Do you have any children?

A: "We have one child, his name is Jax and he's eight years old."

Q: Do you have any siblings? If so, older or younger?

A: "I have two older sisters, one younger brother, and one younger sister. So I'm the middle child and the black sheep of the family."

Q: What did you do this summer?

A: "I don't have an exciting life, I don't travel or anything like that. I like to stay around the house. So this was my routine over the summer: wake up to a slow morning, ride my motorcycle to a local cafe, catch up with some friends over breakfast and a cup of coffee, go back home to do some woodworking, hang out with my son after school, and finish the day with a nice family dinner. Rinse and repeat."

Q: Do you have any other goals you want to achieve?

A: "Yes, my goal is to replace all of the furniture in my home with my own homemade ones. It's a work in progress."

Mr. Pham is a great teacher who makes his class enjoyable. With his funny jokes and helpful advice, I’m happy to be in his class and I’m excited to see how this year goes.

Image Courtesy of Tayonna Rohrbach.