After only a couple weeks of teaching, new math teacher Meredith Webster said she already loves the connections she makes with students.

Webster began teaching at Park Jan. 5 after students returned from winter break.

Webster said she grew up and went to high school in Los Alamos, New Mexico, received her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota and now works toward a master’s degree in math education there.

Webster said her lifelong passion for math fostered her love for teaching.

“I really enjoy math, and I want other people to see why math can be fun and why it can be beneficial to their lives,” Webster said.

Webster said she places a lot of importance on students involving themselves in class. She said she supports teachers facilitating student learning and helping students make connections on their own.

“I’d really like to work on getting a classroom to do more of a discussion-based setting rather than traditional math where you have a teacher just lecturing to students,” Webster said. “I think having students really develop theorems on their own is super important.”

Webster said she values helping students completely understand what they must do to solve math problems.

“Being able to explain why something works and why it’s important is really useful,” Webster said. “A lot of times students learn the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ but they don’t get the ‘why’ behind it.”

Sophomore Avia Kaner-Roth, a student in one of Webster’s classes, said she has had no trouble adjusting to Webster.

“She’s an easy teacher to get used to,” Kaner-Roth said. ”She’s really nice.”

Webster said she believes the connections students make with their teachers help students learn better.

“I think (it’s important for teachers to) connect to their students in ways that they make sure they understand what’s going on in their lives or they learn how they can help students be successful,” Webster said.

According to Webster, great teachers understand their students. She said she strives to serve as an adult students can come to and trust in the face of a struggle.

“Students should at least have one teacher that they feel comfortable talking to about more personal aspects of their life because it’s nice to have a confidant that is an adult,” Webster said.

Kaner-Roth said Webster’s patience with the class makes her a good teacher.

“I think she’s a really good teacher,” Kaner-Roth said. “(She’s) really accommodating and understanding to the situation of my class having so many different teachers.”

Kaner-Roth said the change of teachers mid-year made Webster’s ability to connect with her students crucial.

“She makes sure that everyone is on the same page and made sure to know everyone’s name as soon as possible,” Kaner-Roth said.

Webster said she wants to become more involved in activities at school as the year goes on.

“I’d like to get to know my students and I’d hope to in the future get to go to some sporting events and plays here,” Webster said.

Webster teaches three sections of geometry in classroom A314.