In new math hire Karl Tenenholtz’s classroom, the sound of students flipping through math textbooks and working through equations fills the space, creating an educational environment for students to unlock their potential. Beyond the textbooks and daily assignments, Tenenholtz brings tons of teaching experience and a commitment to helping students succeed.
While this is his first year teaching at Malden High School, Tenenholtz has spent 15 years working in education, including at Marblehead High School. Adjusting to a new school comes with challenges, but his experience has helped him settle into the new environment with ease. He has enjoyed his transition to Malden High, claiming, “Students have been great. The teachers have been great.”
Getting used to a new teacher can take time, especially when their teaching style differs from what students are used to. Sophomore Maria Diniz Martins recalled that his serious appearance initially stood out to her, but she found that “students can approach him when they need help.” When students ask questions about their assignments, he works with them individually to help them understand the material.
Sophomore Rylee Rimpos noted that his classes move quickly, with the textbook playing a major role in daily lessons, “but he does explain the concepts.”
Martins explained that students generally follow a similar routine each day, getting their books and working on the assigned pages. Although this approach emphasizes independent practice, students also gain the opportunities to work through problems and ask for assistance when they need it.
Moreover, Tenenholtz encourages students to learn from each other by presenting their ideas. He recognizes that students do not always think about a problem in the same way he does.
Outside the classroom, Tenenholtz has interests that extend beyond mathematics. He enjoys staying active through running, while also playing sports like soccer and tennis. He stated that he “has played tennis since high school and also enjoys coaching sports.”
His experience with athletics is another part of his life that students have become familiar with. Martins mentioned that students sometimes ask him questions about his personal life, including his work as a tennis coach.
Interestingly, tennis is also a concept that Martins connected to his style of teaching: since tennis can involve individual competition and personal responsibility, she wondered whether his experience with the sport might influence his expectations for students to practice assignments.
Despite his structured approach to teaching, one of Tenenholtz’s biggest priorities is helping students develop confidence in mathematics. He understands that not every student enters a math classroom feeling capable of succeeding. Students who have struggled in previous classes may begin a new school year believing that they are simply not good at the subject.
Tenenholtz believes that patience and encouragement can help students approach mathematics with a more positive attitude rather than allowing past struggles to define their abilities.
Ultimately, his classroom is not just about finding the right answer to an equation or a problem; it is also about developing the determination to keep trying, the patience to learn from mistakes, and carrying the skills long after the school year ends.
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