Grades/subjects you teach: 9th and 10th grade Math I, II and III, Discrete Math
E-mail address: ptillett@chatham.k12.nc.us
Date, place of birth: November 29, 1958, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Education (high school & college attended, degrees): Firestone High School; Kent State University, B.S. PE/Health; Chapman University, M.A. Administration
Brief work history: Teacher, 27th year; U.S. Air Force, seven years active duty, four years reserves in military intelligence
Teaching honors/awards: 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year for the Chatham Center for Innovation
Hobbies/interests outside teaching: Sports, baseball, basketball, dogs, beach
Family: Married with five kids, seven grandchildren
On teaching...
What led you to a career as a teacher?: Actually to be a coach in baseball and basketball.
Who were your favorite teachers as you went through school, and what did you learn from them?: Mrs. Goroner, Latin/English. Taught me how to work my best!
Has becoming a teacher been all you expected it would be?: Yes, very fulfilling and fun.
How has teaching changed since you were a student?: The technology is so different now.
What “makes your day” as a teacher?: Seeing a student smile because he/she solved a tough math problem.
What’s working in schools today?: Schools do so much: educate, feed, bus and help kids grow.
What’s not working?: We need more teachers.
What’s your favorite memory of your first year as a teacher?: Dissecting frogs in 7th grade.
How would your “teacher” persona handle you as a student?: Probably with humor and enthusiam.
Best piece of advice for other teachers?: Have fun — our children are the country’s best and most important resource.
For students?: Never give up. Try your best.
For parents?: Support your kids with love and positive attitudes.
If you were superintendent for a day, you’d: Have all school personnel switch/trade jobs for one day.
What about your job would surprise your non-teaching friends the most?: How many decisions a teacher makes every day.
If you could somehow magically instill one truth into the heads of your students, what would it be?: Always try your best and never stop learning.
When you think about today’s kids, you: Realize how much they will need to know in their lifetime.
If one of your students was asked for a one-word description of you by a student who hadn’t had you in class, what would that one word be?: Funny.
Favorite movie about school or teaching: “To Sir With Love”
How would you summarize your teaching philosophy?: Try to have all my students like math.
What five things must every teacher know?: Your subject, your students, yourself, humor and patience.
What’s special about your classroom?: It is very inviting and supportive.
What’s special about your school?: It’s a fantastic place to learn. We are a family here.
Most unusual question you’ve ever gotten from a student?: Did you know Abraham Lincoln?