John McAllen
Teacher, Pt. Pleasant Borough High School

Since his arrival to Pt. Pleasant Borough High School, AP Calculus class sizes have more than quadrupled, and despite there being no prerequisite for any of his classes, test scores have maintained the highest level of achievement.

To facilitate this, John volunteers to teach AP Calculus in the evenings in order to give the non-honors students extra attention, and teaches a BC Calculus course after school and during their lunch periods.John makes it a priority to integrate his engineering experience into the classroom on a daily basis, and solidify the connection between math, physics, statics, dynamics and other applied engineering classes. 

“My goal as a teacher of math is not just to ready students for next month’s quiz or next year’s calculus class, but rather to comprehensively prepare them to be 21st century problem solvers and innovators.”

John has also been the first in the district to implement and train faculty on the wireless tablet PC into the classroom. Teachers can work through problems, show video demonstrations or handwrite notes either facing the class or sitting in the back next to a particular student. This significantly impacts students who struggle with attention issues as they are far more engaged, focused and attentive and the class moves at a far quicker pace.