Pearson SVP, David Kokorowski, headed to the classroom to teach high school math this fall, blending his passion for education with innovative learning technologies. Hear how this experience is helping to inform his approach to product development.
Key takeaways:
- David Kokorowski took a sabbatical to teach high school math this fall.
- By integrating traditional classroom techniques with Pearson’s content and tools, David aimed to make complex math concepts more accessible and engaging.
- The real-world insights will inform his approach to product development, ensuring Pearson’s tools continue to meet the evolving needs of educators and students.
At Pearson, we believe learning is a lifelong journey.
Our belief that it’s never too late to learn new skills and try new things is at the heart of who we are, and how we innovate, as a company.
There is perhaps no better embodiment of this ethos than David Kokorowski, Pearson’s Senior Vice President of Product Management for Higher Education. David requested a temporary leave of absence –– not to travel the world or play golf, but to teach. For three months this fall, David taught upper-level precalculus, calculus, and integrated math to juniors and seniors at Dunn School in Los Olivos, California.
Supported by his team and peers, David embraced the chance to combine his love of teaching with his expertise in effective teaching and learning tools.
David Kokorowsk, SVP Product Management, Higher Ed
A passion for education and innovation
“Returning to the classroom at Dunn School is a unique opportunity to apply my passion for scaling effective teaching and learning in a new context,” said Kokorowski. “Although my professional career has been in the edtech world, I’ve always enjoyed teaching, whether it was as a TA during my graduate studies or helping my own kids with their math homework.”
David’s academic journey began with a PhD in experimental atomic physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His early career included a postdoctoral fellowship where he developed a prototype online homework system that evolved into Pearson’s Mastering product line. David’s passion for education and innovation continued to grow and he has played a crucial role in expanding and evolving Pearson’s Higher Education learning technologies, including the MyLab and Mastering platforms.
“Now I get to bring what I’ve learned from building innovative tools like MyLab directly to students, including my own children,” he explained. “This experience allowed me to combine traditional classroom techniques with Pearson content and technology tools to enhance learning and make complex concepts more accessible.”
Sparking curiosity and building confidence
David’s goal in teaching was to spark curiosity and build math confidence. “I want to help students see the connections between academic concepts and real-world applications. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness those ‘aha!’ moments and to play a role in shaping their intellectual journeys.”
And in return, real-time classroom insights gleaned from several weeks of teaching with Pearson products will undoubtedly help inform his approach to product development and improvements in the future, ensuring Pearson’s offerings continue to meet the evolving needs of educators and students.
By embracing the spirit of lifelong learning and curiosity, Pearson employees continue to innovate. David’s teaching sabbatical embodies our commitment to deeply understanding our customers so that we can continue to create vibrant and enriching learning products that help people realise the life they image through learning.
Read more about David’s teaching experience and his five important takeaways in his own words on LinkedIn.