Although not everyone loves taking math classes, there is a clear consensus on campus that everyone loves Upper School math Department Chair Sandi Goss. Mrs.
Goss has been with KO for 15 years and will be desperately missed when she leaves at the end of this year. From her bright and positive energy to her killer precalculus skills, it is truly a mystery what the math department will do without her on the faculty next year.
Mrs. Goss started her journey in business. “I was initially in sales,” Mrs. Goss said, “but I really struggled to make the close on deals.” Being the considerate person that she is, Mrs. Goss felt guilty asking people for their money when, honestly, they were being better served with their current company.
From there, she was hired by her direct manager and moved from the closing side to the presenting and selling side, which she enjoyed much more. It was only when she was put in charge of teaching the staff how to use the new software programs that she fell in love with teaching. “It was at that moment that I decided I wanted to do that for a career, but I knew I wanted to work with kids,” she said.
Mrs. Goss said she has always loved working with kids, whether it was through charitable programs or coaching. “I started taking some education classes,” Mrs. Goss said, “and since math was kind of my thing, I figured I’d probably teach at the college level.”
She was given the opportunity to teach a couple of college classes while also taking courses provided by the university, and it was during those classes that she stopped to ask herself, “Why are there so few girls in math?” Puzzling as it was, it was that very question that sparked her interest in doing an independent study, tackling the dilemma of gender in math.
“Back then, I’d always sit in my classes by myself,” Mrs. Goss said, “so I got involved with this professor who was doing a study on single-sex versus co-ed schools in general, and I was really interested in the math perspective.” There were a couple of schools involved in the study, and Miss Porters was one of them.
Long story short, a position opened up mid-year while Mrs. Goss was working on her study, and she decided to jump right in with this new opportunity. Turns out, she loved working with kids and getting to teach math at all different levels.
A few years later, while at a party with some teacher colleagues, Mrs. Goss learned of an opening here at KO, and because of the location and logistics at the time, she decided to take the risk and accept the job. “Luckily,” Mrs. Goss said, “that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Out of all the special moments or memories here at KO, Mrs. Goss says that she has one thing in particular that made her want to keep coming back. “Seeing the kids get something is really exciting, especially when a student has been struggling and it finally clicks,” she said.
She had an international student a few years back who would explain to Mrs. Goss how everything in her old school was very independent, especially math. “You did not talk in math,” Mrs. Goss said. “You just did what was asked of you and there was no collaboration.”
However, after working with her peers and learning to collaborate for a couple of months, the student realized how much she loved working with others and learning new material. “That was a real game changer for me because I saw how big of a difference my class was able to make in her life,” Mrs. Goss explained.
She says that after KO, the biggest thing on her bucket list is to travel more. “I don’t have a set plan or destination, but traveling is really high on my list,” she said. She also wants to volunteer more and become more involved with organizations that she is currently working with.
“My son is very entrepreneurial and is always asking me about possible business opportunities,” Mrs. Goss said. Although she doesn’t know what that might look like now, she says that the right business opportunity could definitely pique her interest.
When asked if she had any advice about either math or life, she had one answer. “Just try it,” she said. “Go for it. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” That is something that a lot of students on campus could learn from. Take risks, try new things, and make the most of the opportunities that you are being presented with every day.
As the interview came to an end, Mrs. Goss had tears in her eyes. “This has been a great place to work,” she said. “From the moment I stepped onto this campus, I honestly knew that these were my people. It’s been a great home for me for a really long time, and it’s definitely going to be hard for me to leave this amazing place.”
KO will miss her cheerful smile, her loud bellow from down the CT halls, and her complex word problems that she has a little too much fun creating. Mrs. Goss, we wish you all the best in this next chapter of your journey.
