Teacher Spotlight: Justin Leonesio
By Senior Evie Fordham
Justin Leonesio, who is the Math Department Chair at Wake Christian Academy, and teaches calculus and precalculus, decided to become a teacher when he was a senior in high school.
He recounted, “My high school math teacher made an incredible impact on my life. His passion for both his students and his subject area influenced me to consider being a teacher.”
He added, “Once I began to investigate that possibility further, God placed a desire within me to pursue the field of education for my future. Through the avenue of teaching, God has given me the wonderful privilege and responsibility of influencing young people toward Christ on a daily basis.”
Leonesio, whose students call him “Mr. L,” has been married to his wife Katelin for three years and they have two dogs named Biscuit and Dink. They attend Driven Church and are self-proclaimed “thrill-seekers” who enjoy “riding rollercoasters, skydiving, SCUBA diving, and most anything else that involves something extreme,” said Leonesio.
He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Mathematics at North Carolina State University, having earned his master’s degree from NCSU and his bachelor’s from Liberty University.
He said he can’t imagine himself teaching any other subject than math and explained, “Within the field of mathematics, there are so many exciting things to unveil! In my classes, I try to emphasize conceptual ideas rather than rote memorization.”
Leonesio elaborated, “When mathematics is boiled down to a simple memorization of basic facts, it often becomes boring, difficult, and practically useless. No wonder so many students ‘dislike’ math!
On the other hand, when I can answer the famous math question of “why?” for a student, then the barrier that typically separates students from a true understanding and appreciation of mathematics can be torn down. I encourage my students to ask the tough questions.”
Leonesio finds watching his students grow into more mature human beings the most rewarding part of teaching.
He stated, “Although academics are important, and I enjoy watching the ‘light bulbs’ come on as new concepts that are addressed are comprehended fully, I would have to say that seeing students grow spiritually during a school year or over the course of several school years is by far the most rewarding part of teaching.”