Technological Humanists

Top: Top Math Teacher P. Brady Townsend, left, with Principal Thomas Pandisao and nominating student Julie Anderson. Above left: Chemistry teacher Eileen Ratkiewicz, center, from the MacDuffie School in Springfield won the second-place Technological Humanist Award, which included a trophy and a monetary award of $2,500. Hilary Leithauser, left, who nominated her, and head of school Kathryn Gibson attended the awards dinner. Above right: David Steeves, left, who teaches physics at Chelmsford High School, received the third-place award, which included a trophy and $1,500. With him is Chelmsford High principal Allen Thomas. Steeves was nominated by Shamik Bhattacharyya.

Model Math Teacher

They rank crime statistics, measure gas-pump nozzle efficiency, and calculate the net contribution of good-driver discounts to an insurance company's bottom line. They aren't ace analysts and accountants--at least not yet. They are the students of P. Brady Townsend '95, math teacher at Wachusett Regional High School in Holden.

"As a teacher, he finally answers the question, 'Why would we ever need to know this?'" wrote senior Julie Anderson in her winning nomination of Townsend for WPI's inaugural Technological Humanist Award. The annual award honors outstanding high school teachers in the Bay State who embrace the philosophy of technological humanism--how science and technology can address important social issues.

Companies have actual problems they need solved, says Townsend. He converts real business questions into classroom math problems using current data; his students explore situations that have implications in the real world.

Townsend accepted the first-place trophy and award of $5,000 during a ceremony May 1. The second- and third-place finishers also took home monetary awards along with distinctive trophies to display in their schools. The teachers may use the funds to purchase equipment, pursue professional development or subsidize other activities that enhance education at their schools. Nominations for next year's award will be accepted beginning this fall.

Technological Humanists

Model Math Teacher

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