Samuel Hummer is a new teacher here at Westford Academy. He teaches freshman Algebra 1 and sophomore Geometry.

Question: Did you teach anywhere before coming here?

Answer: I did. I taught in Fitchburg at a charter school called Sizer School. I taught there for about a year and a half. I started mid-year, during the school year there, and then stayed on through the following school year.

Q: And you taught math there as well?

A: I did. I taught Algebra 1 there. It’s a freshman class. There were a mix of of other students as well.

Q: Where’d you go to college? 

A: I got my undergraduate at UMass Amherst, at the college of engineering. I’m currently finishing up my master’s degree at Lesley University in Cambridge.

Q: Why did you choose to come to WA?

A: I have always wanted to be a part of this community, I think that the things that are done in this building are awesome, and they do incredible work here. Incredible students, incredible teachers, incredible community, and I wanted to be a part of it.

Q: Had you been searching for an opportunity here while working at Sizer, or did the opportunity just appear?

A:I had been searching while I was working there for an opening there with the hope that when it became available, I would be the chosen candidate, and I really lucked out, and it lined up well for me.

Q: How is your experience at WA so far?

A: It’s been awesome. All of my classes work really hard, they are focused, and the community and my desire to be a part of this community has proven to be true, the reasons why I want to be here. Everything has gone well, and it’s better than I expected.

Q: Is it a different experience here than your previous job?

A: It is. I taught in an urban school district in Fitchburg. There was a slightly different community, slightly different expectations, slightly different expectations placed upon them, as well as the core material being taught. So, small differences here and there, and this is just an awesome community to be part of.

Q: Why did you choose to become a teacher?

A: It’s something I always wanted to do since I was in high school. I found it extremely rewarding as a student to be helping my peers in class. That followed me through college, and it was something that I really wanted to get back into at some point in my career, so that’s why I made a switch. I was previously a civil engineer before moving back into teaching. It’s always been a passion of mine, helping others do what they want to do.

Q: How long have you been teaching for?

A: This is my third year of teaching.

Q: Did you know when you came here that you wanted to teach underclassmen?

A: I always knew I wanted to teach high school, but within that I’m not sure I had a preference. So this year, I have both freshman and sophomores, and I’m enjoying working with both groups. I think at some point I’d like to work with juniors and seniors as well, but that’s down the road a few years.