New to SPA this year, meet US math teacher Lauren LeMinh. LeMinh is a fourth-generation Golden Gopher. Her great-grandma, grandmas, parents, siblings, and countless other family members have all gone to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. LeMinh has a bachelor’s degree and is currently in the process of completing her graduate degree at the U of M. Learn more about LeMinh through this quick Q&A session.

Q: What do you teach?
A: I teach Honors Algebra 2 and Precalculus.

Q: What made you become a math teacher or teacher in general? What do you enjoy the most about it?

A: I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade. I always liked helping others learn about anything. Then, in high school, I realized that I loved math and decided to put my two passions together and become a math teacher. My favorite thing about being a teacher is hearing many new ways of thinking about mathematics from students. I have my own way of solving math problems, and it’s so great to hear about other ways from students.

Q: Do you have previous teaching experience?
A: I am a first-year teacher. I have experience student teaching at Southwest High School in Minneapolis Public Schools, and I have volunteered as a classroom assistant at many schools in the metro area.

Q: What do you enjoy outside of work?
A: I love to play golf with my family and friends, experiment and play with makeup, do puzzles, and watch movies. I will watch any type of movie except horror.

Q: What is the hardest part about teaching in Distance Learning mode?
A: The hardest part about teaching in Distance Learning is the lack of casual conversations that would happen at the beginning and end of classes. Especially as a teacher new to SPA, it is difficult to make connections with people you’ve never met in person. I would also say planning for Distance Learning classes takes a lot more time than planning for in-person lessons.

Q: If you were a student now, what advice would you give yourself?
A: I would tell myself, “Ask for help when you need it. Sometimes it is hard to admit that you don’t know something but it is better to ask for help now than to keep struggling until it is too late.”

Q: What is one thing you can’t teach or live without?
A: In Distance Learning, I can’t teach without my external monitor. In life, I don’t think I could live without air conditioning because I do not like to be hot.

Q: What are you looking forward to at SPA?
A: I am looking forward to getting back to school and seeing how all the spaces are used by students. As someone new to the community, I look forward to meeting everyone in person and going to events held at the school.