Going from a rocket scientist to a high school math and engineering teacher might seem like a downgrade for most, but for Tammy Kuipers, it was one of the most fulfilling choices she has ever made. Sure the pay isn’t great and you inevitably run into a few problematic kids, but like most teachers, she gets a sort of supernatural satisfaction from helping awkward children along in their development. I had the pleasure of taking calculus and statistics from her during my high school career, and her bubbly personality and dedication to her work left a great impression on me. At 5’5” Mrs. Kuipers may not look like much of a threat. And with her bouncy bleach blond hair, slightly over-tanned skin, Hollister clothing, and permeant Starbucks cup
…show more content…
Kuipers was not about her phenomenal teaching or extensive qualifications; it was that she was the teacher in Hall E that would bring doughnuts to class. Throughout Derby High, she was most famous for the ten dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts she would bring every time her precious Ohio Buckeyes won. Though parted with her home town of Columbus, Ohio, she never failed to celebrate a Buckeye win, even at the cost of overdrawing her bank account. This quirky tradition of hers is a good indicator of how she ran her classes as well. Mrs. Kuipers makes sure that her “classes are always full of fun and laughter”. Corny math jokes would often grace her whiteboard, eliciting groans from her captive audience. Sometimes a lesson would be put on hold to tell us personal stories, like the time she got out of a speeding ticket by pretending her daughter had been choking on some water. While she may be best known and loved for her personality, Mrs. Kuipers is also one of the most dedicated and invested teachers I have ever met. For example, she never hesitates from a struggling student. In addition to spending extra time to be an unpaid tutor for Derby High, her own house became a help center many times when her son would bring home friends needing assistance in math homework. Former students have even been known to Skype or text her for help on their college
Kuipers was not about her phenomenal teaching or extensive qualifications; it was that she was the teacher in Hall E that would bring doughnuts to class. Throughout Derby High, she was most famous for the ten dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts she would bring every time her precious Ohio Buckeyes won. Though parted with her home town of Columbus, Ohio, she never failed to celebrate a Buckeye win, even at the cost of overdrawing her bank account. This quirky tradition of hers is a good indicator of how she ran her classes as well. Mrs. Kuipers makes sure that her “classes are always full of fun and laughter”. Corny math jokes would often grace her whiteboard, eliciting groans from her captive audience. Sometimes a lesson would be put on hold to tell us personal stories, like the time she got out of a speeding ticket by pretending her daughter had been choking on some water. While she may be best known and loved for her personality, Mrs. Kuipers is also one of the most dedicated and invested teachers I have ever met. For example, she never hesitates from a struggling student. In addition to spending extra time to be an unpaid tutor for Derby High, her own house became a help center many times when her son would bring home friends needing assistance in math homework. Former students have even been known to Skype or text her for help on their college