BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — The subject of math can be a hit or miss for many students. It’s either loved or hated.
“Minus 12 times one, that is also going to give us negative 12 right?” said Weeki Wachee High School math teacher Adam Buckey to his students.
Although Buckey is a math teacher, he even admits that math isn’t always riveting.
“Sometimes making it fun and entertaining for the kids can be pretty tricky. The kids battle with even liking mathematics,” said Buckey.
Buckey’s love for numbers is kind of infectious. His students learn to love math, especially when they see how positive and enthusiastic he is to the subject.
“I just always try to stay in a good mood, and it’s a natural mood, I am generally happy. I feel that it is good to be in a good mood, because then my students stay in a good mood, too, it’s positive energy,” said Buckey.
He has only been teaching for four years, but is already very involved at the school.
He helps after school with an e-sports club, and assists struggling seniors to meet their math requirements for graduation.
“He is one of our junior sponsors, so he puts on proms, dances, things along those lines. His wife works here as well, and they are just part of what you want at a school, a total community. They have their baby here sometimes during events. Just makes it feel like a family,” said Weeki Wachee High School Principal Edward LaRose.
“What formula do you think is going to be the most helpful for us to use to convert it to standard form?” said Buckey to a student.
“Vertex?” answered the student.
“Our vertex form, yes,” said Buckey with an encouraging smile.
Buckey wants his students to succeed, even if at first it doesn’t seem likely.
“It is amazing to watch a student grow. To see where they are at, sometimes they are struggling with adding and subtracting, and then by the end of the year they are dealing with all types of problems,” said Buckey.
Buckey said he plans to make teaching a lifelong career, though he does have a future interest in teaching at the college level, too.