The teacher files
A conversation with Clackamas Community
College math teacher Melinda Nickas
BY SAIGE KEIKKALA
Curious about your professor’s teaching style and personality? A new instructor will be featured every issue. Here
is an interview held with Melinda Nickas, 46, who teaches math for multiple levels here on campus.
CLACKAMAS
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EDITORIAL
Co Editor-In-Chief
Andrew Koczian
chiefed@cladcamas.edu
Co Editor-In-Chief
Megan McCoy
chiefed@cladcamas.edu
News Editor
Saige Keikkala
newsed@claclcamas.edu
The Clackamas Print: What class do you teach?
Arts & Culture
M elinda Nickas: 1 teach Math 111, 112, 243 and 211
aced@cladcamas.edu
... everything from math for elementary students to
statistics.
Associate Arts & Culture
Matthew Rowning
Blake Swan
Sports Editor
TCP: What is your teaching style?
Katie Archer
sportsed@clacicamas.edu
MN: Very friendly. I like cooperative group learning. I like
Copy Editor
having students work together to solve their problems
and that would be my preferred style. Group centered,
how’s that? Student centered and group learning.
Shaylyn Struna
copyed@claclcamas.edu
Photo Editor
Austin Boltz
TCP: Where are your classes held?
photoed@clackamas.edu
W eb Editor
MN: Oh they’re everywhere. Math classes are everywhere.
Chelsea Pagan
I have one in Barlow, one in Roger Rook and two in
Streeter. So Streeter is the math department building,
there’ s only two classrooms in there, so we don’t get
those all the time.
webeditor@clackamas.edu
Ad Manager
Robin Scott
admgr@ciackamas.edu
Design Editor
TCP: Part-time or full-time teacher?
Brandon Chorum
STAFF WRITERS
MN: Part-time.
TCP: How do you view teaching?
MN: Oh, I love it. This is the best job. This is the best job.
& PHOTOGRAPHERS
TCP: Do you like it here at CCC?
MN: Clearly! Yes, I do.
Cassidy White
Debbie Fox
Lily Shaver
Merari Calderon
I have taught middle school math, high school math and
I just think this is the best.
TCP: What sort of materials do you use for teaching?
TCP: What jobs have you had in the past?
MN: That’s a good question. I love being able to show
Justan Honer
videos, but there aren’t that many fun math videos. I like
to do class activities where they get to discover things
on their own, and I try to use direct instruction as little
as possible. That’s my main style.
Taras Kovch
TCP: What are your hobbies?
The Clackamas Print aims to
Tori Tinker
PRODUCTION
MN: I have taught middle school and high school, and
I’ve taught here. I also taught online high school, which
was awful. I was a court reporter for a long time, a court
stenographer. So I did that and I became a math teacher.
TCP: Is college the best?
JOURNALISM ADVISER
Meiissa Jones
melissaj@dackamas.edu
report the news in an honest,
MN: I love food. I love exercise and I love outdoors and I
unbiased and professional manner.
M N: It’ s the best and I don’t want to sound like I’m
have a cute dog and my family. And I enjoy my friends.
Content published in The Print is not
sucking up, but the Clackamas staff and students really
are awesome. They really, really are. It’s great.
This interview has been edited for clarity and space.
screened or subject to censorship.
Email comments, concerns or tips to:
chiefed@clackamas.edu
or call us at 503-594-6266
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