Goodrich – It is a relationship of mutual respect between math teacher John Doerr and senior Adam Bishop at Goodrich High School.
A math whiz, Bishop received two awards at the Oct. 24 annual fall awards ceremony at Goodrich High School’the Trig Star award by Wade-Trim, Inc. who sponsored the competition, and one for his participation in the University of Michigan-Flint 39th Annual Mathematics Field Day.
He gives his math teacher high marks and a lot of the credit.
‘Mr. Doerr is the one that is a genius, although he wouldn’t admit it,? said Bishop. All of the students who take his class love him. When his students get it, he loves it. If they don’t, he goes way out of his way to make sure they do.?
Doerr would rather give his students the pat on the back.
‘My students do all of the work, I am just the facilitator,? Doerr said. ‘Adam is a very hard worker and analytical thinker. He sees the patterns in mathematics and remembers them as well as anyone. The problems at these competitions get more difficult, but Adam gets better each year.?
Doerr said it’s all about showing his students that he cares about them and their progress that makes all of the difference.
During the Trig Star competition Bishop was required to solve four pages of problems in 60 minutes.
‘The first two pages are more routine,? Doerr said. ‘The last two pages have an entire problem on each page. Those are problems that companies have encountered. They give them to the students to see if they can solve them.?
A professional surveyor, James Kovas at WadeTrim said they like sponsoring the Trig Star competition. ‘Trigonometry is probably the most important part of mathematics that is used to survey property,? said Kovas.
‘It is special teachers like John Doerr who use the competition to inspire students towards trigonometry. He is first rate. It is his enthusiasm that drives his students to a higher level.?
Bishop currently takes Calculus II at the University of Michigan.
‘If a student has exhausted the curriculum at the high school, the state sends money for students to take courses at colleges,? said Doerr.
A part of Goodrich High School’s band, Bishop said he enjoys playing percussion and wants to continue playing at the college level.
Bishop said he has always been ahead in math since he can remember. ‘My little sister taught me multiplication tables before I entered kindergarten,? he said.