I'm not just a HS math teacher! In addition to working on cool math problems I enjoy power kiting, sailing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and playing guitar. I am an avid Crossfitter, and enjoy pushing myself to learn new skills such as rock climbing and kiteboarding. I like most styles of music, including hip hop, and have been writing and performing my own raps for the last 5 years (about math of course!) You can find videos of all my raps as well as some of my kiting on my YouTube channel ([url]http://www.youtube.com/user/MikeDobbs76?feature=mhee[/url]). Before teaching I worked for 10 years in the field of sales and management before returning to school to earn my teaching certification. During those 10 years I found myself drawn to the training end of the business more than any other. I enjoyed helping people learn new skills and improve upon their existing abilities. In fact, I began to notice that in all areas of my life, whether it be in the workplace or in the Dojo, I was always drawn to opportunities to help people learn new things. So when I began to look for a new career, teaching was an obvious choice. I was fortunate enough to have a series of incredible teachers and TA's at Stony Brook while working my way through my mathematics degree, and they instilled in me a sense of wonder and awe at the power and beauty of mathematics. My goal for this year, is to share some of that beauty and power with you. Whether you realize it or not, mathematics is all around us; and it provides a unique and powerful lens through which to view the world. Far too often mathematics is presented or understood as a set of abstract rules and procedures to memorize. During the course of this year I will work hard to help you experience mathematics in a more real and meaningful way, as my teachers have done for me.