Chris Bolognese

Gahanna, OH | 7-12, Mathematics, 2021

What motivates you to contribute to excellence in STEM teaching?

There is nothing like students having an "a-ha" moment when they discover a new mathematical idea or get their code to run. Supporting students to be their best, curious selves motivates me to always find new ways to teach. Networking with other like-minded, passionate STEM educators challenges me to continue pushing myself and continue to be a lifelong learner.

What has been the most transformative moment that affirmed your impact on STEM education?

There have been many amazing moments in my teaching career. Having previous students pursue a STEM field, such as a past student going on to get a PhD in mathematics, always impresses me with what they can do. Being chosen as a Demsos Fellow was also transformative since it allowed me to visit Desmos HQ in California and learn how to better improve how I use it and other digital tools to have students explore mathematical ideas. Having the chance to go to travel to Hamburg, Germany and Oslo, Norway for math conferences have broadened my understanding of pedagogy.

Using your platform as a Presidential Awardee, how do you hope to advance our nation in STEM?

I hope to stand up and support all students to succeed in mathematics and computer science. By continuing to engage in ongoing professional development and advocating for high-quality STEM teaching, I will do my part to advance STEM education.

Biography

Chris Bolognese has taught Upper School mathematics and computer science at Columbus Academy since 2015. Chris has taught most levels of high school mathematics, from Geometry to Calculus 2, as well as a number of computer science courses. For the first five years at Columbus Academy, he served as PK–12 Mathematics Department Chair by organizing professional development opportunities and supporting curriculum advancement. He also taught in Upper Arlington City Schools where he served as the district K–12 Mathematics Teacher Leader for two years. Chris believes in centering his students as creators and problem solvers in his class by regularly asking them to author their own problems through an instructional strategy called “problem posing”. Chris has invited professional mathematicians, such as author Steven Strogatz, to videoconference with his class and talk about the history of calculus. He also co-organized the school’s family mathematics night for Lower School families, launched a national conference called the Mathematics Educators Convergence, and spearheaded the “Math Meets Art” exhibit in the school’s gallery space. Chris is a regular presenter at state, regional, and national conferences where he shares rich tasks, modeling, and mathematical technology such as Desmos. Chris is a facilitator and mentor for Math Teacher Circles, a nationwide community for teachers and mathematicians to play with mathematics. He also served on the editorial panel for the Mathematical Association of America’s AMC 10/12 competitions. Chris has a B.S. in mathematics, a B.S. in civil engineering, and a Master of Mathematics Education, all from The Ohio State University. He also has an M.S. in mathematics from Texas A&M University and M.S. in data science from Eastern University.

High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph

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