STAFF & FACULTY DIRECTORY PROFILE
Dennis Dougherty
Job Title:
Math Teacher
Department:
Mathematics
Email:
Phone: (510) 577-9100
ext.
214
Started at O'Dowd:
1979
Degrees:
Cal Poly 74-77 BA Mathematics, Cal State Hayward 1979 Coaching Certification, CSUH Teaching Credential, CSUH MA Education, Grand Canyon University, 2003
Originally from:
Born in Oakland, grew up in Hayward
Why I Teach:
I enjoy helping students expand their knowledge in mathematics. As a swim and water polo coach I enjoyed working with students new to the sport as well as the high level swimmers who have competed for our school. There have been so many excellent kids come through this school, as well as their kids. I haven't yet taught any grandchildren of former students.
Most powerful teaching technique:
Math is a participatory activity. Students will improve by exercising their brain as they try to solve complex problems. Quality of work is most important. Quantity of practice work depends on each students needs.
Why are the subjects you teach important?:
Mathematics is a unique human endeavor, although I've seen a video of a dog who "understood" calculus by consistently finding the minimum path to a frisbee thrown in the water. Understanding mathematics can open many more options for your future.
Favorite quotes:
"Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile." - Jerry
Favorite trivia:
I was at the A's game where the Major League record for strikeouts was set. The game lasted 20 innings and ended at 1:30 am with the A's winning 1-0.<br /><br />How many total strikeouts were there in this game?
Recommended visual media:
Woody Allen - "Take the Money and Run" Alfred Hitchcock - "Rear Window" "The Great Escape" "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" "The Godfather" San Francisco Silent Film Festival SF Film Noir Festival
Recommended reads:
"Sometimes a Great Notion" "The History of Pi" "Zero, The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" "The Perfection Point"
Hobbies or outside interests:
Swimming, Baseball, Movies, Concerts, Grateful Dead, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, travel