Musically inclined to mathematically defined

Sheri Rogers journey to mathematics instructor

As far back as fifth grade Sheri Rogers knew she wanted to be a teacher.

“Both of my parents were teachers so that might have been part of the influence,” said Rogers.

Prior to joining the RoadRunners, Rogers taught fifth and sixth grade general music and choir classes for eleven years at Irwin Middle School in Fort Bragg, N.C. She also worked at Cleveland Community College in North Carolina for ten years as a full-time mathematics faculty member.

In September of 2010 Rogers came to work at Linn-Benton Community College. She teaches mathematics courses all year long as a full-time faculty member. She learned of the job at LB through an online job posting and wanted to come be back home in Oregon. She felt the opportunities for faculty were ideal for what she was seeking and better suited to the teaching style she had sought.

“The focus for faculty is on teaching rather than on research,” said Rogers.

Rogers spent three and a half years completing her bachelor’s in music and a minor in mathematics at Methodist University Fayetteville, N.C. and another year and half on her bachelor’s of science and math.

Throughout her education she excelled at math. It helped her feel encouraged to pursue a career even further into mathematics.  

“I love math because of the problem solving,” said Rogers. “There are so many different approaches to a problem.”

In the fall, Rogers will be teaching four classes: Math 15, Math 95 Intermediate Algebra, Math 211 Fundamentals of Math, and Math 241 Calculus.

Ashley McDowell, a previous student of Rogers had struggled with math until she met Rogers during the spring term while taking Math 95.

“No matter how hard the problem was Sheri was always willing to slow things down and teach the students,” said McDowell. “I would take  another math class with Sheri because she is an extraordinary teacher who actually makes math interesting.”

It isn’t every day that instructors receive the gratitude they deserve for the education they provided. However, when they do receive it, it can be that little nudge that keeps the instructor going.

For Rogers it isn’t about the job, it is about making a difference for the students. She appreciates when students come back, write a letter, or even send an email and simply say they understand something because of how she explained it.

“Sheri without you I probably wouldn’t have passed math,” said McDowell. “She is kind and patient and for that I owe her a huge thank you!”

Rogers finds it interesting and rewarding to work with a variety of students at the community college level. Each term there is a new challenge to meet and she takes it head on.