Sunlight streams through the windows of Algebra 1 and Geometry teacher Krystal Nguyen’s classroom, spotlighting countless equations, graphs, and books tucked neatly into the space. Watching a bustling classroom with bright eyes, Ms. Nguyen never falters as she answers questions with endless enthusiasm. In the center of her students, teaching a subject known across the world, she’s right in her element.
After graduating with a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s degree in education from Lamar University, Ms. Nguyen ventured into the field of education. Having taught math for 19 years — 17 of which were inside RRISD — Ms. Nguyen has garnered immense knowledge that shines through in her teaching.
“In [previous] middle schools, I taught Algebra and Geometry,” Ms. Nguyen said. “Taking those skills and reaching out to help the students in high school, I feel I could do a better job with these students because [they] are more mature. I want to hopefully help our high school learners to appreciate math more.”
Ms. Nguyen’s inclination toward numbers began in her teenage years following a monumental move of 8000 miles from her homeland of Vietnam to the USA. Facing a difficult communication barrier in a new country, she found comfort in the subject that remained the same halfway across the globe.
“When I came here, I had a language problem,” Ms. Nguyen said. “Math, to me, stayed numbers. If I am putting myself [in the shoes] of my students who are new to the language, I know how I can help them. By having experienced that, I feel I could bring a unique experience to help understand math better.”
Additionally, Ms. Nguyen credits her high school calculus teacher Deborah Cannon, an impactful mentor who still affects her mindset, for kick-starting her love for math.
“[Ms. Cannon] had a way to teach us concepts that were difficult while being able to relate to students,” Ms. Nguyen said. “When she made that math pleasant for me, that was how I connected math to love of learning.”
On top of her stable mathematical foundation, Ms. Nguyen began forging her career in education as her own children began school. After walking her eldest daughter through different topics at home, she was motivated to take her skills outside of her home and into a classroom.
“When I was in the education area, I was like, ‘Wow, this is really good. I feel like I could make a difference teaching students,’” Ms. Nguyen said. “Especially when my kiddos were coming home, I wasn’t home schooling, but I could see that when they were struggling, I was able to go over those concepts with them a little bit more. I thought, ‘If I can do this, I wonder if I can help not just my children, but other students as well.’”
In her free time, Ms. Nguyen continuously strives to improve the curriculum for her students, whether that’s streamlining the grading process, creating lesson plans, or brainstorming new ideas to engage her students. While improving the quality of education inspires Ms. Nguyen during work, she also loves spending time with family and friends when she’s off the clock. Her personal hobbies include gardening, reading, and baking — she’s always open to trying new recipes.
“Prior to coming [back to school in the fall], I spent many hours getting ready,” Ms. Nguyen said. “But now that I have established those [fundamentals], I am able to spend more time for myself. [For example], I love to garden, and if you visit the classroom, you could see the plants.”
Accentuating the school’s reputation across the district, Ms. Nguyen praises the standard of education that Westwood brings. She hopes to spread her joy of learning in the school’s community while reminding students to have fun in their final years before college.
“My goal here at Westwood is to make this [the students’] best year ever,” Ms. Nguyen said. “If they haven’t learned to love math, this will be the year that they do.”
