Lori Barbag

I believe the magic of mathematics is in how students can connect what they are learning to real-life experiences. Math is everywhere. Whether they see it through logic puzzles, building models, analyzing data, or understanding the curves of a rollercoaster, students begin to recognize that math is not just a subject, it’s a way of thinking and making sense of the world around them. In AP Calculus, we strive to make these connections tangible. We explore rates of change by analyzing population growth and velocity, apply integrals to model accumulation in real-world contexts, and investigate optimization problems rooted in engineering, economics, and environmental science. When students realize that the same derivative that describes how fast an object moves can also be used to analyze trends in social media growth or predict the spread of a virus, they start to appreciate the versatility and power of calculus.

What excites me most is watching students transition from viewing math as a series of steps to memorize into a lens through which they interpret their world. They collaborate, think critically, ask thoughtful questions, and defend their reasoning. That kind of mathematical empowerment not only helps them succeed on the AP exam, but also builds lifelong problem-solving skills. The true magic of math happens when students say, “I see it now, I use this every day.” That moment of connection is why I love teaching and leading in this field.