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March 1 was Employee Appreciation Day! We are celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Meet Todd Stallsworth, a supportive High School Math Teacher at New Story Schools’ campus in Columbus, Ohio.

What is your favorite thing about working here? 

My favorite things about working here are watching students progress from grade to grade and being at their graduation ceremonies. Also, creating amazing personal relationships with outstanding coworkers and finding lifelong friends. 

What keeps you coming to work each day? 

Each day is unique at our school. There are events that happen that no other job could give me—they keep me on my toes and ready for anything. And of course, I get to teach the students the subject I love. 

How do you make an impact on students’ lives? 

I think it’s important for my students to understand their potential. Some of the students have had a tough academic career, so I feel that it’s my job to give them the support and guidance to learn not only math, but how to be good people. 

Last year, we rolled out our BetterTogether guiding principles. Which one of our values resonates with you most personally and why?

I am a huge proponent of accountability. I think it’s important to always work on improving as an educator, to show up at work every day ready to teach and to hold myself to a high standard. Inconsistency for my students is not fair to them and I want to make sure they get the best educational experience I can offer them. 

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role? 

I arrive at school well before the students do so that I can focus on the day at hand. I typically swing by some classrooms to say, “Hi” to friends. Class begins with a fluency block where students try to reach their goals. After they chart, I move onto the lesson for the day. I have four periods of math and then lunch. I normally stay for lunch to lesson plan/prepare for the next day. Sixth period is Physical Education, so that class goes to the gym and participates as a group in the sport for that week. In seventh period, those students do their school jobs around the building. After dismissal, I ensure that I am ready to go for the next day (copies, fluencies, tests, supplies, etc.). Prior to leaving the building, I always swing by again to see how my friends’ days went. 

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now? 

This is my eighth school year at New Story Schools (previously Haugland Learning Center). I started as a Teacher Support then took over a K-8 classroom as a teacher about a month after I was hired. I was with the K-8 program for three school years and then took over the academic high school math teacher position. 

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role? 

I’m currently in the process of developing a high school academic fluency program that involves not only the math facts used at the K-8 level, but fractions, square root families, equation-solving steps, combining like terms, formulas, coordinate grid facts, monomial/polynomial operations, etc. 

What is something about you that not many people know? 

I am the Director of Scheduling for the local ice hockey officials association and I ensure all local games have referees on the ice. I also skate games and this is my 30th season as an official for USA Hockey. 

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