| COMMUNITY VOICES |
“[Students] find the joy of problem-solving and collaboration.”
Scott Domingos Scott Domingos is usually game for anything. Hoping to lift the spirits of students learning from home in 2019, he gleefully strapped on a pink unicorn helmet and hurled himself from a toddler trampoline and into a neighboring pine tree while on camera. It may not be the austere image you expect from the chair of the mathematics department, but it’s highly effective in engaging students. Domingos’ approachability, combined with a drive to make math both accessible and challenging, has made him a fan favorite on The Hilltop. Last year, he was selected as the Baccalaureate speaker—for the second time since arriving in 2018 from Brewster Academy. Today, after 25 years of teaching, he leads a team of math educators who are finding innovative ways to bring their subject matter to life. “We’re constantly discussing and collaborating how to be better math teachers,” he says of the department. “We never arrive at ‘we’re done.’ We’re always looking for ways to make it a better experience for students.” Students are offered three levels of Algebra II and Pre-Calculus. “We spend a lot of time looking at data to know how to place kids when they arrive at KUA, so that they are challenged but not overwhelmed,” he says. “Kids need to be supported and encouraged.” Students can access one-on-one help with teachers or peers through the Math Tutor Center. Math competitions have also become a popular campus activity. A dozen students competed last year online against students from high schools across the country through Math Madness. The team competes on weekends and trains using practice problems. This year the team competes against other New England prep schools through the Math League. “The math team gives students confidence in their abilities and gives them a sense of how they compare to students on a national level,” he says. “They find the joy of problem-solving and collaboration.” Helping kids find joy and spark a competitive spirit is working. Last year more than 100 students participated in the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics Competition exam. Three students were invited to move forward to the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), with one competing in the U.S. Mathematical Olympiad, the top invitational competition for high-scoring AIME participants. Outside of math, Domingos can be found at Akerstrom Arena with his other team—the girls JV hockey team. “The team is a blast,” he says. K
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| H I L LT O P M A G A Z I N E |
