Math Department Spotlight

Andy Randrup –

What Math class do you teach? AP Calculus (AB).
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? This is my first year.
What made you want to be a Math teacher? Math has always come very easy to me. In high school, I enjoyed helping others understand their Math assignment. During my junior year in high school I decided to go in the Army for 20 years and then retire and teach high school math. God had different timing for me.
What is your favorite in-class memory? I had a deal with 5^th period that I would give them cookies if every single student had their laptops open, notes ready and calculator on their desk when class started. One day they did, except Stevie Crawford walked in late, but he literally walked in with his laptop open, and his calculator in his hand.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? Pretty much every day laughing with my students.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Fortunately, I’m too old to really care when I mess up…and when I do, I’m too old to remember.

Andy Free –

What Math class do you teach? Algebra II Honors and Geometry.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? I am in my 14^th
What made you want to be a Math teacher?I came to know Christ in college while I was an engineering major. God made me realize my calling was to teach and coach instead. I had tons of math courses under my belt already, so changing to Math Education made the most sense. I chose high school, because a bunch of little kids staring at me is a scary thought. No regrets. He has blessed me more than I could possibly imagine.
What is your favorite in-class memory? My favorite in class memory has to be getting the opportunity to teach both of my sons, Matt and Ryan.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? My favorite Wesleyan memory is beating Holy Innocents in the State Championship after being down by 17 points. They beat us three times in the regular season, and we won the fourth meeting.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? I am sure there are plenty of embarrassing moments, but the one I have on my mind happened this weekend. I was putting the golf course address in my phone in the lower school parking lot while the golfers were loading up, and some mean bird (with great aim) pooped on my hand and my phone.

Deborah Brown –

What Math class do you teach? I teach honors geometry, AP Calculus BC, and multivariable calculus.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? This is my 7^th year at Wesleyan (26^th year of teaching).
What made you want to be a Math teacher? I was working 2-3 jobs to pay for college, and I was a business major thinking about accounting or actuarial science when a tutoring service opened on the edge of my neighborhood. I needed another part-time job and began working as a tutor. I fell in love with teaching and teaching mathematics and changed my major. Thinking back, God was grooming me all along.
What is your favorite in-class memory? At a previous school, I had mice come out behind the walls while I was teaching, and the girls freaked out and were gathered in a huddle on top of desks and they guys were chasing the mice. This definitely did not occur at Wesleyan.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? My favorite Wesleyan memory was meeting Mr. Young for the first time and having a 2-hour chatting experience during the interview process. Next, Mr. Young gave us family passes to the Falcon’s game on my very first teaching day here. They were V.I.P. parking and club level seats. We happened to know someone that was in charge of catering for that level and she provided us all with free meals. Best first day on the job experience ever.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? I was leaving Magnolia Bakery to come to work and my shirt got tangled up in their sign that advertises the special of the day. Hunter Darsey and a couple of other students saw what was happening and came to my rescue, but I didn’t know my shirt was still tangled up with the sign and I kept dragging it as Hunter was trying to free me. Nevertheless, I arrived at Wesleyan only to discover I had left my cell phone at Magnolia and had to go back. Hunter and the other students were still there and as I walked in one of the waitresses hollered at me across the store, “Hey, don’t knock down any more signs while you are here!” I had to then go through the embarrassment of telling the employees that I had now lost my phone in their restaurant. What a ditzy kind of day.

Chris Paroli –

What Math class do you teach? I teach Algebra I, Algebra II, and AP Statistics.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? This is my 6^th year at Wesleyan.
What made you want to be a Math teacher? I have always been a fan of math and it came easy to me. I got the desire to work with kids in college and thought math teaching would be a great route. It has been a great career decision.
What is your favorite in-class memory? I cannot pinpoint one exactly, but I love when a student puts the effort and desires to be at their best every day. I also appreciate my Algebra I class two years ago who put together the Mr. Paroli quotes PowerPoint.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? Two memories are beating Pace in football two years in a row (2014 and 2015), and all of the relationships I have with made with my students and players over these past six years.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Having the video of me singing the Backstreet Boys “I Want it That Way” circulate among the entire student body.

Corrie Nash –

What Math class do you teach? Geometry, Honors Geometry and Honors Pre-Calculus.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? 9 years.
What made you want to be a Math teacher? I always liked school and thought I’d end up teaching, but I didn’t think I was smart enough to teach math until a college professor encouraged me to do so.
What is your favorite in-class memory? One memory that has passed down to multiple classes is the hierarchy/caste system of boxers and circlers created by Daniel Woods and Kris Laurite.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? I love any time that interactions with students extend beyond the content of class like talking to students about their lives, meeting for summer Bible study, getting lost in downtown Atlanta on a mission trip, eating at Chipotle and so on. I love the personal nature of the community of Wesleyan.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Lauren Hill likes to write “Ms. Nash hates humanity” on my board. One day there were some prospective parents on a tour who stopped by our class. I thought I was opening a blank page on the SMART Board, but Lauren’s message shone bright and bold in front of everyone. I tried to swipe quickly and failed.

Jeff Plunk –

What Math class do you teach? AP Statistics.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? 12 years.
What made you want to be a Math teacher?It was not my first career; I tried to be an actuary. Once I realized how much I enjoyed math, coaching and being around students, it was an obvious choice.
What is your favorite in-class memory? I threw a glass of water on one of my students (Alumnus Ali Svetich ‘09). She had it coming, but she was not happy. It is a long story, but she was at Homecoming last year and we laughed about it – so it’s all good.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? Missions and retreats have always been my favorite. All my trips have been amazing, but the trips to Romania, Ukraine and Nicaragua all stand out. As for retreats, there was that time I broke a student’s shoulder wrestling on the freshman retreat. Sadly, that was the end of “go time” at the freshman retreat. I still contend it was self-defense – fortunately, his dad saw it that way too.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Aside from the aforementioned broken shoulder, I tend to be hyper competitive, and I used to struggle with temporary bouts of insanity when an official blew a call. The picture was in the paper after the state tournament one year. Mr. Young (and my mother) told me this was not a good look.

Ashley Stainback –

What Math class do you teach? Algebra II, Algebra III and Precalculus.
How long have you been working at Wesleyan? 15 glorious years.
What made you want to be a Math teacher? love math and showing students that don’t love math that they “can” do it. I live for the “light bulb” moments in my students.
What is your favorite in-class memory? Teaching the SSA triangles to my students in Algebra III. Got to love the ambiguous case.
What is your favorite Wesleyan memory? Coaching the varsity cheerleaders in 2008. What an amazing group of young ladies. The Dome was pretty cool too.
Most embarrassing moment at Wesleyan? Having to compete in the belly flop competitions at the freshman retreats.