Q. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.

        

A. My name is Garry Cameron and I'm currently a middle school Algebra and Computer Science teacher at Friendship Public Charter Schools — Blow Pierce Junior Academy, located on the Sunny side of Ward 7.  I enjoy getting the opportunity to shape the young minds of the future and to be able to provide them access to experiences that will help positively impact their lives.  I was recently nominated and named a finalist for The Washington Post Teacher of the Year. I am currently nominated for The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and I hope to bring the distinguished honor home.  My mentor and I are working on a project that will help increase the number of black and brown teachers trying to enter the profession.  I also currently sit on the SharperMoise Foundation advisory board that will open up an all male STEM school in Chicago, Illinois and I will play a significant role in the programming for students. 

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Q. What was your formal introduction to math and what about it did you find alluring?

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​A. My formal introduction to math was from my mother.  My mother is from Haiti where she excelled as a math student.  She showed me unique ways on how to think about numbers.  I was able to incorporate how she learned math along with how I was learning math and made connections with math that created excitement for me as a student. I then became fascinated with numbers and the patterns they presented. I also am fascinated with the patterns that shapes carry.  You can literally perform all four operations with numbers and get the same digits just with different values.

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Q. In your youth, did you foresee a future where you could incorporate your passion into your everyday life?​

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A. I initially wanted to be an accountant and took a pre-college accounting course.  I thought that I would be learning how to balance books and figure out how economics work.  I ended up going to a different college than anticipated but still found my passion for math.  As I matriculated through college, I began to explore more of the sciences and fell in love with sciences, so much so, that I received a double licensure in Math and Science.

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Q. How are you using this aspect of STEAM to make your mark in our world?

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A. Currently in my profession, I am incorporating all forms of STEAM into my classroom on a daily basis.  We use cross curricular planning to make effective project based lessons that provide access to our black and brown students.  My students are engaged in reviewing the volatility of the stock market daily; they are coding using Python, which has many aspects of math incorporated in successful codes; engaged in social activism and participating in peaceful demonstrations to fight for equity and equality in this world.

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Q.  As a mathematician, are there any historical mathematicians that you feel today's kids should have more access to their work and contributions?  Why?

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​A. One of my favorite mathematicians that I think all students should know is David Blackwell.  His contribution to game theory, information theory, and probability theory all have impacted mathematics, economics, and gaming.  Blackwell applied game theory to military situations by analyzing the optimum timing of theoretical armed duelists.  My students are big gamers and the gaming industry is becoming very profitable and we are not represented in that arena.  Perhaps if students learned about him they would find gaming more interesting beyond just actually playing the game and would pursue various careers in gaming. 

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