Math Team
David Arredondo
Math Teacher
Room:
Hi y'all!
I'm Mr. Arredondo and I like to teach math and statistics (which is the best branch of mathematics).
I didn't always know that though--I thought I was going to make a career with something to do with machine learning, but I learned that it wasn't for me.
When I'm not teaching math, I like to do math.
When I'm not doing math, I like to rock climb, read, trail run, play video games, dance, and swim, in that order of preference.
Oh, and I got my degree in Statistics from Columbia University in the City of New York, which is a pretentious school full of pretentious people. Those were things I was attracted to in my senior year of high school.
If you would like to know more about me, please ask! :-)
Ryan Bailey
Math Teacher
Room: T108
- Calculus AB: T: 4-5
- Logic/CPS: T: 4-5
- Linear/Multi: T: 4-5
- Calculus AB: Th: 4-5
- Logic/CPS: Th: 4-5
Ryan Bailey (that's me) has taught a variety of courses, with Precalculus AB being my specialty taught every year. I went to UT and graduated in 2016 with a B.S. in Mathematics, where I student taught at LASA that Spring alongside Mr. Laughead.
I thought math was stupid for quite a while, until I took calculus and all the little aspects of math that we had learned for so long finally came together in a cohesive narrative. I try to pass along all those pieces as much as I can in all of my classes. The narrative of math influences the way I teach my classes now, and I think turns my dreaded experience of precal into something way more enjoyable for y'all.
During the school year, I also sponsor Math Club, Christian Club, Food Consumption Club, Badder Movie Club, and many more I can't even remember at this point...
I love donuts (it's from my math research I did in college), I love math, I like playing music (drums and bass for church), and I enjoy reading and listening to debates on theology.
If we had class in person, I'd offer you some trail mix. One day...
Mathew Deram
Math & Science Teacher
Room: T102
Hi! I'm Mr. Deram.
I taught at LASA for 4 years pre-pandemic, and am really excited to be back!
This year I will be teaching AP Precalc AB and AP Physics 1. My hobbies include crewing for and flying hot air balloons, running (I'm training for a marathon next year), and DIY house projects.
I've taught at Vista Ridge HS, LASA, Eldorado HS in Albuquerque, and Westwood HS. I like cats. No that's not my cat =P
Sarah Harrelson
Math Teacher
Room: Room 409
- Monday 4pm-5pm
- Thursday 4pm-5pm
Hi I'm Sarah Harrelson. I grew up in Houston and am one of like six people in the world who loves Houston (because it's the greatest city in the country). I started teaching math at LASA in 2008. Before that I worked at high schools and colleges in Long Island (that's in New York you Texans) and the twin cities (Minnesota omg people buy a map). I have degrees from UT-Austin and U of M-TC, so all in all I spent 19 years benefiting from high quality public schools before becoming a teacher in one.
Things to know about me - I use way too many words when I speak and I flap my hands around a lot. I get very excited and take some things way too seriously. I flip out about math and often explain mathematical ideas to people who definitely did not ask me to. I secretly worry every time a student brings me some new idea to think about that I won't be smart enough to understand. I try too hard when I'm teaching and come off as pretty dorky sometimes. I get super uncomfortable when people cry in front of me, and I don't like hugs. I've got two kids who I make fun of all the time - they both play softball. I love the Astros and no I don't want to talk about sign stealing. I really really love (and complain about constantly) my job.
James (Marshall) Laughead
Math Teacher
Room: T211-B
- Algebra II BC and Constructing Mathematics: MTWTHF: 7:45 - 8:15A, 3:55 - 4:30P
- Algebra II BC and Constructing Mathematics: MTWTH: 11:40A - 12:30P
- Notes: I'm happy to help people from any class each morning, lunch, and after school, but have meetings during lunch on Fridays.
I managed to graduate from LASA in 2012, and came back after graduating from UT in 2016. I've taught Spanish I and Advanced Mathematical Reasoning, and am currently teaching BC Algebra II and BC Precalculus while trying to make a new math class for the future. When I'm not doing math, I'm usually playing video games, or doing whatever the more well-rounded people in my life want to do together.
Elizabeth (Terry) Stripling
Math Teacher
Room: T212
- AP Calculus BC: M: 4:00-5:00
- AP Calculus BC: W 4:00-5:00
- Notes: I'm available other days/times by appointment
I teach Calculus and love absorbing all of the wonderful LASA traditions and history.
I grew up in Auburn, Alabama and did take a few courses at Auburn University (War Eagle!). For college, I headed to UT (Go Horns!) where I received a B.S. in Mathematics and a M.S. in Statistics. After graduating, I worked as a consulting pension actuary. After resigning and starting a family, I volunteered for every STEM opportunity at my daughter’s schools. I even substituted for a couple of the high school math teachers. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to become a teacher myself.
I love mathematics, but I also have an interest in music. At one point I was a pretty serious clarinet player. In college, I played in multiple ensembles including the Longhorn Band, but now I only play about once per year. I’m an exceptionally average cellist, but love playing in my community orchestra. And lastly, I’m a lousy piano player, but it does come in handy every once in a while.
Raunel Suarez-Magana
Math Teacher
Room:
Hello, I was born in Mexico City and moved to Texas when I was 8. I still visit Mexico from time to time, mostly for the food (and family). I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016 and have been teaching Math ever since. In my free time, I like to play sports, read, enjoy nature and listen to music.
Hannah Weems
Math Teacher
Room: T204
- M: Lunch
- T: 7:15-8:15
I was born an raised right here in Austin, and graduated from McCallum Fine Arts Academy in 2009. After that I ran away to Rochester, New York for college and graduate school. I came back to Austin in 2014 because I missed armadillos and scorpions I guess?
Before coming to LASA I spent about 6 years running a math tutoring center. I started at LASA during the 2021-22 school year.
I live with two humans (Kitty and Jasper) and one cat (Coco). When I'm not working I love movie marathons, crossword puzzles, dance marathons, and anything involving water. I always get the Wordle and I make a mean friendship bracelet.
T. Michael Word
Math Teacher
Room:
As a lifelong Austinite, I have always been able to call Austin home. I love teaching geometry, so much so that I have been teaching it for over 25 years. For 20 of those years I have been preparing students at Kealing Middle School so that they might become LASA students someday (like both of my own children were able to do).
For many years I would spend my summers dancing and singing in local musical productions and even did a few shows during the school year. I met my wife in a production of West Side Story and now we focus our energy on embarrassing or occasionally entertaining our children by singing and dancing at home or sometimes spontaneously in public.
Jose Zuniga
Math Teacher
Room: T211A
- Precalculus M-Th Lunch
Hi there! I started teaching in 2020, yeah, that year. I have a degree in Civil Engineering from UT Austin and practiced for about 7 years before teaching Math at the high school level.
In my spare time I enjoy going on nature hikes and reading a good non-fiction book. I never learned to swim because of, you know... sharks. Not a big fan of cats, but I love dogs. My 100 pound German Shepherd still thinks he's a baby and may have caused me some permanent back problems but I still love him.