Faculty Profile: Mrs. Bates

Faculty Profile: Mrs. Bates

  • Where did you attend college?
    • Loyola University Maryland
  • What is your role/what do you teach at BAHS?
    • I teach Algebra 2 and Honors Trigonometry and Precalculus.
  • How long have you been teaching for, and how many of those years have been at BAHS?
    • I have been teaching for 16 years (1 year in middle school in Howard County, and the remaining 15 years at BAHS).
  • Are you involved in any teams, clubs, or activities?
    • I am co-advisor to the BAHS Academic Team, along with Mrs. Roppelt.  We hold the annual BAHS Academic Team invitational and compete in various tournaments throughout the school year.
  • How has Covid affected your teaching?
    • I learned to integrate some great technology into my lessons, including the OneNote notebook, class kick, and pixel art! I learned to be more flexible with students and slow down when they need more time to interact with new content and to ask questions.  The pandemic and virtual learning made me realize that we should not take in-person learning for granted and we should appreciate the time that we have together in the classroom.
  • What inspired you to get involved in education?
    • I had an amazing Social Studies teacher in high school, Mr. Friedman, who inspired me to teach.  He would have us step into the shoes of famous historical figures and write and act in their voice. He took me out of my comfort zone and made world history relevant and meaningful.  I aspired to do the same with math.
  • Describe your family life (pets, kids, spouse?)
    • My husband and I have a daughter, Caroline (13) and son, Lucas (9).  We also have two dogs, Moxie and Toby.
  • What is one thing you want students to learn and understand from you?
    • It is okay to make mistakes in math and in life.  Your goal should be to learn from those mistakes and grow from them.
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
    • Maybe I will have a fading tan from sitting on a tropical beach all summer. I hope to be happy, healthy, and teaching math at BAHS! 
  • Who has influenced your life the most?
    • My mom has been the greatest influence in my life. She and my dad raised 7 children and instilled in all of us confidence and perseverance.  Her unwavering faith got her through the toughest times in her life, including her battle with breast cancer.  She is an inspiration.
  • What have you learned from your students while working at BAHS? 
    • I have learned to practice patience and kindness.  You never know what another person is going through so kindness can truly go a long way.