This year, Gina Yanni joined the Berkeley Math Department as a teacher for Geometry and Honors Algebra 2. She attended Marist University as an undergraduate, and then completed her master’s in education at the University of Scranton.
Her passion for math began early in her student years, through solving puzzles and problems in her classes. Yanni expressed how she loves how math builds on itself, and how its different subjects like calculus, algebra and geometry are interconnected.
Growing up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Yanni spent time watching her mother, a third-grade teacher, and visiting her classroom, thinking that she could not see herself following her footsteps. Instead, she spent her time working as a data analyst for a hospital. However, in college, she began tutoring her peers in math, where she discovered she did share her mother’s love of teaching, just not for the third grade. “I love watching people discover how math can be actually sort of beautiful and fun,” said Yanni. Driven by a new passion, she went back to school where she obtained her master’s in education to become a math teacher, and has now been teaching for five years.
She began teaching back in Scranton at Scranton Preparatory School, where she taught Algebra 1, Calculus, Honors Calculus and AP Calculus. She was drawn to Berkeley after observing its driven and welcoming students and faculty, and the Tampa Bay area. “I found a new home here,” Yanni said, remarking on how she enjoys Tampa Bay’s change of weather and big city environment, but also feels reminded of her hometown because of its friendly atmosphere.
When she’s not teaching, Yanni enjoys learning pickleball to fit in with the Florida locals. She also enjoys playing tennis, which she played in high school, watching movies and spending time with her toy poodle, Peaches.
When asked about guidance she has for her students, or any students taking math, Yanni advised them to take a deep breath, noting that learning math can be stressful and scary at times, but is achievable, like anything else. She implored them to relax and keep an open mind. “Don’t go into it with an ‘I can’t do it attitude,’” she urged, “You’re going to be able to do it”.
