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This week’s article will continue on the theme of introducing another member of our great staff at Northeast Range, 7-12 Math Teacher Mr. Amos Kolodji. Mr. Kolodji began his teaching career this year at NER, and has a unique and interesting background that he brings into our school.
Please tell us about yourself and your background.
I am originally from Hibbing, decided to go to college to pursue engineering as I was good at math and problem solving. I also spent a lot of time in the area as I was growing up, particularly Ely and the BWCA. While in college, in the summers I also guided youth canoe trips. I learned that I liked working with kids.
My love of math, along with enjoyment of working with kids led me to teaching. My love for this area makes me want to stay here. I subbed in many schools, including NER. I loved the feeling of community at NER.
I have continued to adventure. Once a month, I take an alternate way to school, aka a weird form of transportation. I have biked, hiked, ice skated, cross-country skied, and winter biked. I wanted to dog-sled but we had no snow, so my musher friend drove me to school with the dogs to show my students. After my college graduation, I also took an 88 day day trip, about 1,200 miles, from Grand Portage to Hudson Bay. This trip required a lot of planning, problem solving, and working as a team. Logistical decisions had to be made, but sometimes changed due to conditions. We had to think on our feet.
We live in an awesome place for outdoor recreation, and I want to teach kids how great that is and about all the opportunities that we have. What I love about math is that it teaches us to problem solve and have a goal. The ability to solve complex problems is a life skill that I want our students to have. Problem solving on the fly can be a useful skill whether you are wilderness tripping, designing something as an engineer, or managing a construction project. What brought you to the area? I grew up on the Iron Range, and I love the small-town community feel. The beauty of the wilderness makes this area like no place on Earth. The outdoors is something I want to continue to experience and work with students to appreciate.
What is your favorite part(s) of your job? Watching kids grow. Math is not everyone’s favorite subject, but to see a student who struggled eventually learn to do something is amazing. It helps build their confidence.
I also truly love the community feel of our school. I enjoy watching the opportunities that our kids have with podcasts, robots, rocket launching, and numerous other unique projects. What is a goal for you professionally? As a new teacher, I am always looking at growing. I also would like to build math-related curriculum that ties math to the real-world. I want kids to be able to apply it, and also to answer their question of, “When will I ever use this?” There are many real-world applications for math.
What do you hope to instill in your students? You can do hard things. Things take practice. Not everyone is good at everything. Also, to look for a deeper answer to questions. The purpose of education is to pursue the truth. Also the sense of accomplishment of finishing a difficult task. Lastly, it is a big world and they should experience as much of it as possible.
If money were no object, what is something that you would change or do at school?
Have a full time construction math class. I’d bring in speakers who use math in their everyday jobs. Lastly, I would take our students on wilderness trips so that they could experience the outdoors.
Thank you, Mr. Kolodji for your expertise in math, and for bringing your love of the outdoors to our students. Hopefully we will get enough snow next year so you are able to take the dogsled to school!
