This fall, Concord Academy welcomes new faculty member Max Bean, who will be joining the Math Department.

Since his high school years, Bean has always been curious about education and pedagogy. He grew up in New York City, where he studied at Saint Ann’s School, a private school in Brooklyn. At Saint Ann’s, Bean often wondered, “Why does [math] turn out to be so unfriendly and not sensical to some people?” Bean felt that he could have a relationship with the subject, as it made sense to him, and thought people’s negative perception of math was a pedagogical problem, so he wanted to fix that. Thus, his teaching journey began.

During his college career at Brown University, Bean began exploring alternative forms of education, and shortly after, he taught math and computer science at his former high school. After graduating, Bean undertook multiple teaching positions at charter schools and colleges in New York, where he taught both physics and math. Upon moving to Chicago a few years ago, Bean then continued to teach, diving into the realm of International Baccalaureate courses, such as instructing courses on the Theory of Knowledge.

Bean recalls many factors that influenced his family’s recent decision to move to the Boston area, as well as his specific decision to teach in Concord. For instance, he was immediately fascinated by the historical side of the town. As he put it, “I am excited about Concord because I am a big fan of Emerson, Thoreau, and Hawthorne, so the town is sort of like a New England transcendentalist center,” swaying his decision to join the CA community.

Bean mentioned that he is looking forward to exploring the culture among students at CA, specifically regarding how students and faculty interact. “It’s always exciting to come to a new school, and see what it is like and how it works, because every school is different—has a different culture, especially in the classroom,” says Bean. Moreover, he is excited about engaging with students again and having the opportunity to observe what a learning environment with boarding students looks like.

When asked which subjects he enjoys the most, Bean remarks, “I love calculus and the philosophical and historical side of math because it relates to the Theory of Knowledge course, which is why I like proof-based geometry.” He especially appreciates when areas of different subjects connect with one another.

In his free time, Bean enjoys spending most of his time taking care of his two-year-old daughter. In addition, he finds joy in reading books and watching movies.

Overall, Bean’s enthusiasm to join CA this year makes students, faculty, and staff beyond excited to welcome him into our community!