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Math + Kenya Sandra Chemjor

New math instructor brings her talent to Hutchinson Community College.

Greysin Wirths, Reporter & Designer

Originally from a small east African city in Kenya, Mathematics Instructor Sandra Chemjor is in her first year teaching at Hutchinson Community College. She received her bachelor’s degree in her hometown, Eldorent City, and came to the U.S. to get her masters degree at Wichita State University. She has plans to continue her education with a doctorate degree in mind.

Teaching was not her first choice but after working as a tutor she enjoyed the satisfaction of helping people.

“The feeling of knowing I play an important role in someone’s life in college and my math helps them excel is satisfying,” said Chemjor.

She became a teacher’s assistant in college so that’s when she got to teach classes.

The hardest part about teaching for Chemjor is at the beginning of the year when meeting a new class because she doesn’t know anyone or how they view math.

“Once I get to know the students everything becomes easy. Having face-to-face conversations creates a bond so students don’t feel like students, they feel like friends,” said Chemjor.

She wants to help all of her students know that math is not a scary thing,. She always keeps a positive attitude towards mathematics in her classroom.

Being from a different country, Chemjor comes with a

▼ Photo by Greysin Wirths ▼

Sandra Chemjor, Instructor of Mathematics, works with Addison Baker, Ashland, during Intermediate Algebra to help him learn the materials efficiently. Chemjor explained what was on the board and then walked around to help students.

Getting to know Sandra = Patient - Loves to binge watch thriller movies + Baking and cooking > Loves planning parties for friends + Dislikes waking up early and driving - Wishes she had a private jet to bring her to work every morning + Sudoku - Loves bonding with students + Music and dancing - Traveling

▼ Photo by Greysin Wirths ▼

Chemjor is hard at work teaching the class how to simplify radicals. Students copy down the notes to help them with their homework.

▼ Photo by Greysin Wirths ▼

Chemjor writing examples on the bored to help students with homework. She tought the students rational exponents during the Intermediate Algebra Class.

▼ Photo by Greysin Wirths ▼

Chemjor grading the math tests of her students. Confidant that all her students passing her class. strong accent and sometimes struggles with pronouncing thing differently. She’s found that having to repeat herself in order to be understood helps with miscommunication. She’s constantly asking herself if her students can understand her.

“The masks don’t help because reading lips is no longer an option when trying to understand people,” said Chemjor.

Math can be a scary subject, but with Chemjor at the front of the classroom it can be a little less frightening as she is always willing to go above and beyond for her students..

“She goes through a step-by-step process, then proceeds to come to you personally if you need help and goes over it,” said Chayan Fox, Cheney.

Her process includes writing down everything on the board and she explains it thoroughly then leaves enough time for the students to copy it down so they can use it when they go to do homework, as well as reminds her classes of the homework so they don’t forget.

“It really helps that she gives her own personal time to help students but my favorite part about class is when the texts are over,” said Ethan Pearson, Kingman.

Chemjor loves being in Hutchinson because it is very similar to her hometown back in Kenya with the surrounding fields and farms. Before coming to the U.S.,she was excited to get the chance to experience snow.

“I forgot snow comes with cold weather, which was a big adjustment to get used to,” she said.

Chemjor wants all of her future students to come in to class with a positive attitude and to know that mathematics doesn’t have to be scary. She is more than willing to work with students who put in the effort to learn and will go over the materials as many times as needed.