Chayo challenges calculus students

The administration, students, and parents at Folsom High are buzzing with excitement over the news of calculus teacher Raymond Chayo's nomination for the California League of High Schools 2007 Educator of the Year. The only person who doesn't see what the commotion is all about is Chayo himself."We really do have a lot of fantastic teachers here," he said. "I haven't done anything anyone else hasn't already done. I'm no more deserving than any of them. But it is very nice so many people think well of me."Chayo, who remains deferential in the weeks leading up to the announcement of the winner, has already accomplished a great deal at FHS in his five years teaching calculus, pre-calculus, and English."When I first came here, I was a little worried that the administration wouldn't like my way of teaching," he said. "But everyone has been so supportive. Folsom is unlike any school I've ever seen. It's the best I've ever been to."Since Chayo began teaching at Folsom, the entire mathematics department has undergone dramatic changes, largely because of his efforts. "The entire program was redesigned from the top down," Chayo said. "We looked at it and realized a calculus student needs a good foundation of pre-cal, and a pre-cal student needs a good foundation of algebra - there was a lot to fix. But the department was very receptive."In 2007, Folsom had 81 students take the calculus Advanced Placement test, up from four the year before Chayo arrived."It's the department that's allowed this growth," he said. "Folsom just has an attitude of progressiveness. Everyone is working together, nobody has ulterior motives."The one thing Chayo will brag about, however, is his students."They know their stuff, they know where everything comes from," he said. "I have students who can jump into a third-year college calculus class and dominate. They're not formula dependent. Nationally, these kids are at the top."Chayo admits he purposefully makes his tests difficult, but for good reason."I get here at 6:30, and by 7 I have students lined up outside my door," said Chayo. "School doesn't start until 8. They just want to learn. They help each other. The students are all extremely ambitious and rise to higher levels when pushed. I make these tests nearly impossible, but they keep finding ways of succeeding. Plus, kids know when you're honestly trying to help them." Junior Ashley Messineo, who has Chayo for pre-calculus, is well aware of her instructor's willingness to help."Most math teachers don't know their stuff like Mr. Chayo does. He deserves that award," she said. "Nobody doesn't like him."For Chayo, the recognition pales in comparison to the students' ability to learn."I'm not trying to be popular," he said. "I'm just trying to teach."