Kevin & Julie Frederick

I feel lucky to be where I am today. I travel the world, interact with cultures that challenge my world view, and get to explore unfamiliar places and wild lands with my family. But what shapes my life is my profession: as a teacher, I'm fortunate to have the chance to help others succeed.

My educational background is in computer science and mathematics, which led to several years working in Colorado’s Silicon Valley. The work was challenging and interesting, but in 2003 I decided to explore a career as a teacher. I hoped that teaching would offer me greater human contact and a more observable impact on the lives of others.

I got my feet wet as a teacher by starting as an ESL instructor (CELTA certified) in Bangkok and then moved on to Slovakia, where I had an opportunity to join a QSI school as a secondary mathematics and computing technology teacher. I took this time to earn a permanent teaching credential in secondary mathematics from the state of Missouri and haven’t looked back.

I have taught in Slovakia, Israel, Austria, Zambia, and Myanmar. Along the way, I discovered the value of IB DP, IB MYP, and AP programs; co-authored two new Pearson textbooks to accompany the new IB DP Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations SL/HL courses; led several professional development workshops; initiated, developed, and mentored robotics and mathematics clubs and teams; led math curriculum reviews at several schools; and more. After our short tenure in Myanmar was terminated by the military coup in February 2021, I have taken a years’ sabbatical. There has been little rest, though! I am busy finishing my master’s research (anticipated December 2021), authoring teaching materials for AP Calculus for InThinking, and consulting with a nearby private school to help their brand-new IB math teachers get up to speed.

Beyond the 15+ years of CV bullet points, I am more honored by the trust that students place in me than my laundry list of achievements. In 2020, I was the student-selected graduation speaker at AIS Lusaka. Also rewarding are the messages I get from former students. Recently, a young woman found me on Facebook and expressed gratitude for staying positive and providing support, even though she was not in a position to take advantage of extra help at that time: “Thank you for being a wonderful educator and thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.” This young woman is now a teacher herself and runs a non-profit organization supporting women. Truly, we have the honor and opportunity to help people every day, in ways we might not imagine.

As I search for a compelling new opportunity for fall 2022, I am excited to be at a point in my career where I can confidently teach any high school mathematics course. I look forward to helping build an effective math program and contribute to a school’s extracurricular program; my ideal position will include leadership opportunities so that I can share the lessons I've learned so far in my career.

Outside family and teaching, my other interests include rock climbing, mountain biking, traveling, yoga, and fixing bikes.