Faculty Highlight: Jordan Wright '10, Upper School Math Teacher, Eleventh-Grade Dean

For almost 240 years, Friends School’s educational journey has equally emphasized the mastery of content with the mastery of essential skills required to succeed in the world - skills like critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and empathy - to name a few. Meet some of our outstanding faculty who guide our students through this journey each and every day.

Jordan Wright '10
Upper School Math Teacher
Eleventh-Grade Dean
At Friends School since 2019

Q. Why did you choose Friends and/or what do you love about teaching at Friends?
A. There's definitely a feeling of home when thinking of Friends School. I spent the first five years of my professional career teaching at a boarding school in Northeastern Georgia. I had arrived at a point in my career in which it may have been time to think about a different opportunity. The opportunity at Friends represented an ideal next step. I would get the chance to experience what it would be like to be a professional in a day school while being in a familiar environment. I enjoy working with my FSB colleagues. They are very supportive of my work and care for my well-being like you would want any good friend or family member to do. I enjoy working with our students, who I find to be engaging to talk to and witty. I certainly am a teacher who laments the end of the school year.

Q. What do you love about teaching your subject in particular?
A. When teaching math, there is some level of impact you can have on the students regardless of the course or the level of the student. If the class is Calculus, then you can encourage the students to embrace the fact that they are taking calculus, a subject that is generally perceived as being intimidating for students. There can be something moving about doing calculus. If the class is Statistics, you hope to expose the students to all sorts of real-world applications and give them a good foundation of the subject matter moving forward.  You also hope that your Statistics students walk away with the ability to be better-informed citizens.  If the course is Algebra II, then you have the opportunity to give students a solid math foundation as they move through the school's curriculum.  Overall, you certainly hope to develop a good relationship with students, create a good math experience for them, and encourage them to get through challenges. A motto I use with certain students is, "We can do hard things."

Q. How do the Upper School curriculum and teaching at Friends School prepare students to be successful?
A. In terms of math, we aim to give students a good foundation of the subject. Regardless of the level, hopefully, they are as sound as they can be as students of math. This enables them to move forward in our curriculum or beyond the school. More generally, an ideal FSB graduate is well-rounded. Hopefully, students can feel that they can follow through on their passions. They can play a sport and be an artist while also doing their best to be as good of a student as possible. Students ideally take advantage of this flexibility and get exposure to the many different disciplines and activities the school offers.
 

Q. Something fun about you - a motto or hobby, perhaps?
A. I am a huge fan of the Pokemon franchise! I would say that it was very popular with my generation when I was younger. I've played it on and off throughout my life, but I really started playing more after I moved back to the Baltimore area. The students know about this passion. I was pleased that a student interviewed me about my Pokemon hobby for a project in her English class. There is a sense of nostalgia associated with the game along with some good storytelling. Pokemon is and can feel "mathy," so it makes sense that I like it as a math teacher.