I've taught in the middle school at Ray since 2013. In those years, mathematics has been my primary area of focus, but I have also had the pleasure of teaching Social Science and ELA. This year, I will be teaching Math to our 5th and 6th grade students.  

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Educational Background:

I have a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC 2012), and a Masters in Architecture from Kent State University (2000).

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I spent the first ten years of my career as an architect, designing buildings while working in Dublin, Ireland and then in Chicago. If you are interested, here are links to two architecture firms that I worked for during those years.

https://www.bmcea.com/

https://www.dirkdenisonarchitects.com/

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My past eight years teaching in Chicago have been challenging, exciting, and immensely rewarding. Working closely with young people, seeing them grow as people and learners, and navigating the complexities of the world with them energizes me, and gives me so much hope for our collective future!

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Personal Info: 

I grew up in the Cleveland/Akron area of Ohio, about 6 hours from here. As the second oldest of five kids, I value the importance working together and showing respect for the ideas of others. I feel that it is super important that we do our best to learn about the world around us, thinking about our roles here in Chicago, and our role in the wider world.  

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Hobbies/Activities:

Most of my favorite things involve being outdoors. I love cycling, long distance swimming, ice hockey and hiking, and spend as much time as possible exploring new places. Each year, I get out for a 4 or 5 day solo bike trip, taking only what I need packed on my bike and on my back. This year, I biked up to Door County, Wisconsin and back. A couple of years ago, I biked to St. Louis, following the Mississippi River. The first year I tried this type of adventure, I biked around the lower half of Lake Michigan, including a long ferry ride across the lake from Ludington, Michigan to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. 

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Traveling:

I love studying (and visiting) new cities and different cultures, and I intend to bring this passion into the classroom as we grapple with our responsibilities as global citizens. I also intend to bring my experience as an architect into the classroom, to open up the curriculum through authentic learning that relies on creative projects, building (cool) things, and learning how math is integral to world we inhabit.

 

I look forward to working with all of our students (and our parents/guardians) to ensure that we make the best of the remote learning experience, and find ways to keep our students excited and optimistic about the their studies.  

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~ Mr. Papczun