Figuring formulas, scratching out equations, and proving theorems aside, math is hard. Not everyone can understand pre-calculus or algebra easily, and even fewer can teach it to teenage students. This year, Parker went the extra mile to ensure its new math teacher was a rockstar — they hired Steve Tyler. While Parker’s Tyler isn’t blasting music at an Aerosmith concert, he will be teaching Applied Algebra, Algebra II, and Pre-Calculus.

Though Parker posted the job opening on a national scale through various websites and job search engines, the man who secured the job lived just down the street.

According to Head of the Upper School Justin Brandon, Tyler received his B.A. degree in Secondary Math Education from Indiana University and holds an M.A. degree in Education. Tyler moved to Chicago five years ago, teaching math at Fenwick High School in Oak Park for the last three years and at Lake Park High School for the first two. He kept his eye on Parker, hoping for a math opening, and when a spot emerged last spring, he applied right away.

“Being new to the area, I worked to find out about the places in my neighborhood and I’ve heard nothing but positive things about Parker’s environment and education,” Tyler said. “I was impressed with all of the activities that Parker offers to their students as an extension from the classroom.”

According to Brandon, every candidate undergoes an extensive review process starting with a screening by Human Resources, which ensures they receive the candidates’ materials that meet the required criteria.

Parker has a standard list of educational requirements, including an M.A. or Ph.D. in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, or a closely related discipline, significant classroom teaching experience with high school students of varying mathematical ability, excellent communication skills, sound judgment, emotional maturity, a commitment to developing one’s own cultural competency and seeking greater levels of inclusion, experience with using technology in the classroom, and willingness to improve professionally.

For Upper School student and last year’s SIRB Head Zuri Mabrey-Wakefield, along with the students on SIRB, there are various qualities to look for in a candidate, specifically a math teacher. “For all candidates, we namely look for compelling reasons they were drawn to the Parker community and the ability to adapt and work with different people to meet different needs,” Mabrey-Wakefield said. “In a math teacher, we were looking at more specifics–what a day would look like in one of their classes, their policies of grading and homework, how they manage different abilities in the classroom, and what subjects within math they liked and were comfortable teaching.”

Mabrey-Wakefield believes that math teachers should be capable of more than simply teaching math, that they should be able to manage different levels of comfort and interest, meet students where they are and challenge them, and have goals for their students beyond learning the material.

When it came to Tyler, Mabrey-Wakefield was impressed with Tyler’s easy going attitude and approach to teaching. “It’s obvious that he has a love and passion for math,” Mabrey-Wakefield said. “It seemed like he was ready for a new challenge and to step into this position.”

According to Upper School Math teacher Robert Wilson, Parker leans towards those with previous independent school experience or willingness to adapt to one.

“It’s important that the newly hired teacher is interested in collaboration with other teachers and other subjects and even other grades,” Wilson said. “The transition from the previous school is much smoother and the teacher is more likely to fit the culture of Parker. A math classroom at Parker should look much different than one at a public school, for example, and I feel that’s something Parker truly values and seeks out.”

An avid user of technology in the classroom, Tyler labels himself as a “facilitator of mathematics” and works with students to understand the mathematical concepts with which they are working. “If students do not understand the background of the mathematical material, they won’t retain that information and that gap of understanding will cause them to struggle as the math concepts build,” Tyler said. “I’m working to make my students be active participants in the classroom, I use an iPad for any presentation of notes that are given and I make sure that the students have access to these files at any time that is needed for them.”

Though Tyler’s previous school was Catholic, he is confident in his ability to adjust to Parker and acknowledges the constraints in every school. According to the website Cathicity, there are various differences between independent and Catholic schools. Catholic schools integrate religious learning as a core subject in the curriculum and, religious or not, the teachers play an important role in ‘transmitting the Faith to the students.’

These constructs, according to Tyler, are just a few that differentiate every school from one another. “No matter the formation, every school is very different and unique in their own way,” Tyler said. “I know Parker will be different than any other school that I have taught, but every school is going to be.”

While acknowledging the difficulty of adjusting to a new school, Brandon believes that Tyler will benefit the Parker community. “Like any new person joining a community, there will be a steep learning curve to understand Parker,” Brandon said. “Mr. Tyler’s commitment to supporting the success and growth of his students is a great fit.”

Tyler is also willing to adjust his teaching style if he deems it necessary to fit the needs of his students. “I am daily critiquing myself and how things are going in class, and if at any point I think something needs to change, I will be changing immediately,” Tyler said. “There is not just one correct way or one best way to do something. A good teacher always needs to be able to be self-critical.”

Tyler hopes to become more involved in the Parker community than simply solving equations and teaching formulas. At his previous school, he coached cross country and track, as well as officiated basketball games. He’ll kick off his first year at Parker on the Freshman Retreat. “I thought there couldn’t be a better way for me to start working for Parker than to go on the Freshman Retreat,” Tyler said, “and get to know the students that will be beginning their time in the Upper School.”