Each Tuesday, we are going to spotlight an FPD teacher. Today we start with Mr. Christian Baumgarth who teaches Math 7, Algebra 1, and Statistics. He also coaches cross country, swim, and track. He has a lot of student fans at FPD, so we thought we would check in with him about his love for teaching and for FPD.

What inspired you to be a teacher?

Two of my favorite teachers senior year of high school told me that they thought I would make a great teacher in the future. I never gave it much thought until I started working at a summer camp during college. It was there that I realized that I had a passion for working with kids and spreading the Gospel to the next generation.

What do you love most about teaching?

I love that I get to never having a boring day of work. Every day is different from the next. I also enjoy being able to see my students grow and learn over the course of the year.

Beyond the subject matter, what do you hope students will learn from you and your class?

I want my students to leave my class with the abilities to think critically, explain thoroughly, and go beyond just surface level learning. I want my students to make connections between what they learn in school and the world around them. This will allow them to use this knowledge to better change the world for God’s glory.

What do you love most about FPD?

What I love most about FPD is the community and sense of family between the students, parents, and faculty. Everybody always has each other’s best interests at heart and are willing to help each other out in whatever way possible.

What digital tool have you enjoyed using most often as part of distance learning?

Screencast has been a life saver while distance learning! It has allowed me to create videos to go through notes and homework problems just as I would have done in the classroom.

What do you think you will take away from these distance learning days?

I think I will be most proud of how well teachers at FPD and across the country were admired with so much respect for being able to adapt to our surroundings. I love the lengths to which teachers everywhere have gone to meet the needs of their students.

Quick Answers Questions:

Hobbies: Running, Hanging out with Friends, and trying all the great restaurants around Macon

Favorite Fast Food Place: CFA

Favorite Places Traveled to: Australia and New Zealand

If you could have any superhero power, what would it be: I would want to be able to teleport anywhere quickly so I never have to worry about being late!

Favorite Bible Verse

1 Corinthians 9:24: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”