The Telescope

Issue Date: 4/24/06

Teaching by the numbers

By Scott Neth

Media Credit: Jared Lansford Algebra professor Bahram Alidaee, better known to his students as Bob, said he is willing to do whatever it takes to help his students understand the material.

For many students, Algebra instructor Bahram Alidaee gives the ultimate math solution - to either love math or learn to live with it.

Take one of Bob's (his students and friends call him Bob) classes, and you are likely to learn a lot.

"I love my job. I have a passion to teach, and I love to see my students succeed," Alidaee said. "It makes me happy when I hear them say, 'I got it Bob.'"

While other teachers may enjoy their jobs and seeing students succeed, Alidaee does whatever it takes to give his students the best chance to learn. Regularly dedicating more than 14 hours per day to his lectures, notes, exams and tutoring, Alidaee remains upbeat.

"When you're a teacher, you have to be optimistic and positive," Alidaee says. "You have to have a passion to teach, or don't teach at all."

Alidaee may be optimistic, but teaching isn't the only thing that keeps him smiling.

"If I have time, I like to play golf and soccer, and watch American movies," Alidaee said. "But my real favorite hobby is playing with my kids and being with my family - that's my number one choice. Nothing else comes close."

Spending so much time on his work, Alidaee is away from his family more than he would like. But he said it's something that he and his family have come to live with and work around.

"He's dedicated to his work and loves what he does," said Alidaee's wife Carrie. "He works so hard, I worry about him sometimes. He does everything in his heart to help students, especially those who are struggling."

Though she doesn't see her husband as often as she would like, she said she takes consolation from her husband's motivation.

"Knowing that a student was helped makes any of our sacrifices worthwhile," Carrie said.

Sacrificing for his students is something Alidaee said he is proud of. Born a foreigner, he won't tell students where he is from - but said that he sees teaching as a way of repaying the country for all that he has received.

Continued...

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