Department of Mathematical Sciences Alumnus of the Semester

The Bittner Family: Joe, Morgan, Peyton and Cheri

“Things are going great!” according to Joe Bittner, a December 2000 graduate in the mathematics teaching option. And, he has a lot of data to back up that claim! He and his wife Cheri recently celebrated their first anniversary, and shortly thereafter they celebrated the arrival of their daughter Payton Mackenzie! Soon Joe will be starting his third full year as a mathematics teacher at Snider High School in the Fort Wayne Community Schools system.

Path to IPFW: Joe grew up in Evansville, Indiana where he was a Toronto Blue Jays baseball fan (you’ll have to ask him about that!). For two years went to the University of Southern Indiana, but decided to change because he wanted to be an actuary and USI didn’t have an actuarial science program. After looking around he decided to come to IPFW because we have an actuarial science option and he has a sister who lives in Fort Wayne.

The IPFW years: After taking some of the business courses required for the option, he decided that being an actuary was not for him. However, one of his economics professors had gotten him involved in the Junior Achievement program. Because of this experience, Joe decided he wanted to be a teacher! While earning his degree at IPFW Joe was actively involved as a teaching assistant in the flexible pacing and out-of-class testing programs. He says that working as a TA and in the test center in test review helped significantly in his preparation to be a teacher. And, he did a good job! He was selected as the “Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant” for the 2000-2001 academic year.

Career: Soon after graduating from IPFW Joe started substituting at Snider High School. They liked what they saw, and offered him a regular position for the 2001-2002 academic year. Joe is enjoying teaching very much. He likes attending workshops and conferences on teaching, and has found the NCTM conferences particularly beneficial. Recently he participated in the book adoption process for the state. In addition to his teaching duties, Joe has also coached the girls softball team. Even though it is time consuming, he finds it rewarding to work with students in this context. In his spare time (!) Joe is working on a Master’s in Secondary School Administration. He is about one third of the way through the program.

Advice to Math Teaching Majors: Stick to it. Do not give up. When I was going for my degree, it seemed like I would never see the light at the end of the tunnel but when I graduated the light was bright and beautiful. It has been a positive and enjoyable ever since I graduated. I now have a beautiful family, house, and career that I would never give up. Now I have a new light to strive for and that is for my master’s degree.