Kate Malsayeva aspires to make her class the best it can be. photo by Ta’Shiaia Box
Malsayeva is always there to help as she goes along in her journey of mathematics and teaching.
At Thomas Jefferson High School, students always have someone to go to for help. From teachers to administrators, everyone is here to help get students to where they need to be academically. One of those teachers is Kate Malasayeva, Malasayeva is a math teacher for freshman and sophomore students at TJ, teaching Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2.
Malasayeva originally taught Special Education as a generalist. She taught students with special needs at Abraham Lincoln High School. During her time there, she fell in love with math, deciding she wanted to focus on just teaching mathematics. She is originally from Belarus, located in Eastern Europe, where the education system and environment is different. She claimed, “I am a product of a different culture. Our school system looks different, so starting from kindergarten I carried with me a feeling of safety and happiness when I was at school. I still carry that feeling.” Her own experiences as a student inspired her to be a part of the education system, pushing her forward in her career and driving her passion to be the best teacher possible. She has always had a deep love for teaching and being in the classroom, whether she was learning or teaching.
When Malasayeva moved to the United States, she was looking for a job in education and ended up teaching in a classroom for special needs students. “I was so impressed with how overall students and people with disabilities were treated in the US after only seeing one person with a disability per village where I am from.” She went on to say, “I was so inspired, and I decided to become a special education teacher but somehow, I ended up teaching in high schools and decided to stay there.” After a few years, she realized that she wanted to manage classrooms. She wanted to help students and make an inclusive environment for everyone. Her journey has been about discovery of what she truly loves and how she wants to help students achieve their goals.
When Malasyeva came to TJ four years ago, she loved the environment, the inclusivity, and how students were always the priority. “At TJ, I know that if anyone needs anything, they can go and talk about it and receive the help they need. I want to be a part of that.” Malasayeva has a deep rooted passion for teaching and wants her students to be as successful as they can be. Math isn’t everyone’s favorite subject, but Malasayeva does her best to make her classes as fun and enriching as possible. “I have so many different teaching experiences in so many different populations, and I love it. I love that me and my students are speaking about colleges and overcoming challenges.”
As a student, it’s a comfort knowing that there is someone to go to and ask for help with homework or understanding a lesson. Malasayeva is one of those teachers. She is a teacher who will find a method that works so students can understand the material in class and a teacher who will do everything she can to make sure her students not only pass the class, but excel.
