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I am Kevin W. Korpi,
and Math is only part of my world.
I am an
INFJ, former home builder, and current math teacher
who loves to read, woodwork, sew bow ties,
embroider, play disc
golf, laugh, hike, camp, wear pearl snap shirts, think about exercising,
and, of course, teach and do math. My favorite
color is blue. I am in my 25th year of
teaching at my Alma Mater, New Braunfels High
School. I am a proud Unicorn (class of 1992)
and Longhorn (UT class of 1996--although I spend my
first two college years at TX A&M). I have a
BS in Mathematics and a Certificate in Bullying
Prevention (digital copy only). I collect
quotes like some people collect beer bottles (which
I also collect, like some people collect lint (which
I also collect, albeit, unintentionally).). I have had 9 knee surgeries on my
right knee. I have eaten 8 bean burritos in
one sitting.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Police Academy 7: Mission
to Moscow." In my skateboarding days of youth,
I endured 6 concussions (because wearing helmets
wasn't cool, and I was really bad at skateboarding
(and have suffered 3 more since)).
Each year, I prepare my students to earn a 5 on their AP
Calculus exam. I am happy, though, if they get
a 4 or even a 3. I have 2 kids and 1 wife.
I have tried vegan, but prefer meat. I have
run two full marathons, but prefer driving. I have
read fiction, but I prefer non, especially
biographies, survival tales, and newspaper captions. I snorkel the
local rivers a lot, but I prefer diving in Roatán.
I will eat anything, but prefer Mexican food.
I am a metalhead, especially metalcore, melodic
death metal, and post hardcore punk (plus anything
Iron Maiden and John Prine), but I will tolerate other types of
music, especially if it's metal or metalesque. I, myself, eschew the misuse of reflexive
pronouns. I have been failing at learning to
play the guitar
for more than 30 years. When I grow up, I want
to be a Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park.
If I had the money (and no wife and kids), I would attempt to climb
Annapurna (not Everest) and hire Ed Viesturs as my guide. My heroes are Maurice Herzog, Abe
Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Walt Disney, Larry Bird, Norm Abram, Gerry Spence, Zig Ziglar,
Sam Houston, my former math teachers, my wife,
Leonhard Euler, Robert
Irvine, Ian Roussel, Marcus Aurelius, Attila the Hun, Super
Batman, and my future-president son, Tate.
I am a member
of The National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics, The Mathematical
Association of America, The American Federation of
Teachers, Mensa, & the Mission Valley Homeowner's
Association, and a former member of the St. Louis
Catholic School "Midnight Breakers" break dancing
troupe. I subscribe to "The Week," "Nat
Geo Traveler," "True West," and "This Old House."
I do at least 1 crossword and 0 Sudoku puzzles every
day. I
can't say no to dressing in silly costumes, getting
tackled, or "dancing" in large crowds in the name of
student pep and motivation. I write
approximately 30 original letters of recommendations
per year. I enjoy early mornings with lots of
black coffee (just one cup, if the cup is large
enough) and late evenings with ghosts (especially if
Zak Bagans is inciting them). As a College
Board consultant, I have been paid to grade AP
Calculus exams during my summer break (but I'd
almost, might do it for free, maybe). My UIL Mathletes and
calculus competitors have sometimes slipped and
called me "Coach Korpi." I am also
the former fearless sponsor of our school's award-winning
Blue Crew men's spirit group, Computer Coding Club,
the Creative Writing Club, and the Dinosaur Club.
I have hauled our
Unicorn "Buford" mascot to football games since
2000. I previously had the best "seat" in the house at
home football games working the chains (and now the
scoreboard (air conditioned!)).
I have reluctantly served on way too many
committees. I
dabble in public speaking, announcing for
play-by-play at powder puff games, projecting my
mellifluous tones over the P.A. system at halftime
of football games, mastering the
pronunciations of hundreds of names for high school
graduation ceremonies, leading presentations and
in-services at math parties
conventions, and delivering many keynote speeches to
gracefully tolerant audiences. I
sponsored the math club for 20 years and have the
cool T-shirts to show for it. My teaching
interns from Texas State University have taught me
many things.
I was
nominated for a Lonestar Emmy Award in 2007 for
writing and hosting the weekly "That Geometry Show"
on my school district's cable channel. I did
NOT win an Academy Award for doing the same thing
with another show
“Déjà vu, It’s Algebra 2,” although it earned my
mother's stamp of approval. My provocative,
gripping, cutting-edge next series, "Precal
Matters," was cancelled after filming the pilot
episode; the world just wasn't ready for it.
In my 24 years
of teaching high school, only 22 of which have been
as a state-certified teacher, fortune has shined
upon me many times. I have been awarded the
campus "Beyond the Walls" award and the Trinity
Prize for Excellence in Teaching. I have been
voted as senior favorite teacher of the year, and
teacher of the months on many occasions. I
have been recognized as both my campus' and
district's teacher of the year twice, in 2004 and
2014, as well as the Texas Region 13 teacher of the
year in 2014. For each of my previous 24 years, I have
been honored as a "Hero" to a graduating senior.
Every day, students laugh in my presence; whether it
is WITH me or AT me, I don't know, nor does it
matter.
I teach for
a very selfish reason--I love it!
 Me, enjoying the Texas Summer Heat in July 2018 |
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Click below to
be whelmed:
Hot Wing
Challenge (thanks, Avery!)
Texas Law Dogs commercial (Senior Theme Dinner 2022)
Mason Ramsey Remix Dance
Drumline Dance at Football Game, 2021
Senior Theme Dinner Pie-Eating Contest, 2019
NHS Induction
Speech, 2019
NHS Induction Speech, 2012
Korpi Channel 98
Documentary
Gettin' Jiggy
with Woolbert, Wenzel, & Korpi (2007)
23 Questions
with Mr. Korpi (2019)
Tackle TAKS
video--Coach Phair tackles Korpi
(2007)
NBHS Gangnham
Style Pep Rally 2012-2013
Region
13 Teacher of the Year Video (Adroitly Edited)
2015 Region 13 Teacher of the Year
My Teacher of
the Year essays are available
HERE
Closing Address, NBISD Convocation, August
18, 2014
My
Milestone
Moments
My
Mashups to Scott Adams'
"Dilbert."
Halftime presentation of TOY 2014 (Dunn)
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