Jonathan Sandoval was in sixth grade when he had Mr. Miller for math at Kenston Middle School. Sandoval later said Mr. Miller truly cared about him, as opposed to some teachers who just moved through their day without close interactions with students.

Sandoval remembers how the two would talk about life after class. He became interested in math, and his interest and knowledge of the subject quickly grew.

Sandoval would soon use his knowledge on the subject to help the other students in his class.

“I became good at helping people pretty early,” Sandoval said looking back to middle school.

Fast forward to today and Sandoval is now taking his passion for teaching mathematics and is applying his knowledge in the course he is teaching at his alma mater, Waynesburg University.

An accident early in the Spring semester prevented an adjunct professor from being able to teach a mathematics course for the remainder of the semester.

Chairperson for the Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics Department Richard Leipold’s mind went straight to Sandoval, a 2016 graduate, when the problem occurred.

“We knew we could trust him,” Leipold said. “We know he’s an alumnus, he’s trustworthy, he’s a good guy…I knew he was interested in doing a little part-time work when he was doing his graduate work.”

Leipold, who had taught Sandoval during several computer science courses, remembered his passionate student and reached out to him.

Sandoval is in his last semester of earning his master’s degree from Youngstown State University, and Sandoval jumped at the opportunity to teach at his alma mater, even though it would not be easy.

Sandoval lives with his wife Olivia, a 2017 graduate of Waynesburg University, in Canonsburg, and has commuted to YSU daily for the past two years. He tutors students as a graduate assistant in the tutoring center and has taught three classes throughout his four semesters at YSU.

Taking on teaching the course at Waynesburg University would mean an added workload and an adjustment to his schedule at YSU. But Sandoval took the opportunity.

“It was nice to get my foot in the door,” Sandoval said.

At the beginning of the third week of the Spring semester, Sandoval began his first week teaching two classes of Math 106 Beginning Algebra.

Sandoval had visited campus regularly since graduating in 2016, and always saw many familiar faces.

“He had a lot of friends here,” Leipold said. “He was just a very friendly guy…everyone loves him.”

While he did want to visit friends—both students and professors he had—he also kept visiting for a purpose: to plant a seed in the professors’ minds.

“I stop in just to still relevant to their minds,” Sandoval said.

He is referring to the professors that taught him about math, teaching and life. Leipold and

Professor of Mathematics Dr. James Bush were two influential people in Sandoval’s time at Waynesburg University.

The relationship Sandoval created with the two professors is one that also creates joy to them as well. From the day Sandoval convinced Leipold to have a Mexican meal in class to the times he visited Bush’s house, the interaction is unique.

“We are always kidding around with Jon because he just had such a great personality,” Leipold said.

It’s from Leipold and Bush that Sandoval not only learned mathematics, but also about teaching.

Now that he has returned to Waynesburg University for the semester, he hopes the relationship he had with past professors can grow to another level.

The professors have both experienced similar situations in life to Sandoval’s, such as his graduate work. He is focusing his graduate work in statistics, which is Bush’s passion and expertise, and he refers to Bush often with questions about his thesis paper.

Leipold said Sandoval is not the first alumni that has wanted to come back and teach at the university.

“We have other alums that want to come back here and teach…so I think being a small college that’s really important,” Leipold said. “You get that comradery, that friendship that goes on after [they] graduate, so there’s a lot of people that come back and see us…it’s really nice to know that your students really appreciate you and want to be with you again on a different scale.”

Leipold said working with Bush and now Sandoval has created a nice group atmosphere.

It’s from Leipold and Bush—27 years at the university for both—where Sandoval has developed his own teaching style. Bush goes from the book. Leipold is a free-spirit.

Sandoval is a combination of the two.

“I definitely hope I make them a little bit proud,” Sandoval said. “I learned a lot about how to teach from both of them. They both have their unique teaching styles…I am trying to incorporate techniques from everyone. I try to reach as many students as I can.”

As far as learning from his two favorite experiences professors:

“And of course, to keep learning from them,” Sandoval said. “[I want to see] what else they can teach me on the other side of the desk.”

Bush said he enjoyed having Sandoval in his high-level courses, such as Differential Equations and Mathematical Statistics.

“He enjoyed the challenging material, which, I believe, led to his decision to teach at the university level,” Bush said.

But Bush also acknowledged he wants to hear more about Sandoval’s experience at graduate school.

“Perhaps I can learn a few new things from him, we can all learn from one another,” Bush said.

Bush said Sandoval was and continues to be an outstanding student.

“Jonathan’s passion for teaching mathematics was evident from the day he entered Waynesburg University,” Bush said. “During his four years he was among our busiest, most popular and most effective tutors. He was a tremendous asset to our department in his role.”

Although Sandoval’s role has changed from student-tutor to adjunct professor, Bush enjoys his return.

“It’s great to have Jonathan back at Waynesburg University,” Bush said.

While overseeing Sandoval’s classes, Bush said his young-colleague does not need much of it.

“[He] does not need a lot of supervision,” Bush said. “He was always very independent and an excellent self-starter, the mark of a good student.”

From Leipold’s point of view, Sandoval has done an excellent job so far and he has not noticed any problems.

Sandoval said the ability to help others understand the subject is what makes teaching worth it.

“My favorite moment, the ‘Aha’ moment, that’s my favorite part of teaching,” Sandoval said. “Especially when people are trying, and they have no idea. I like finding different ways to figure out how to teach them. Finding the right combination for the right person, it’s like a puzzle. Once you know how you solve it, you get a student to finally understanding it.”

While only teaching an entry level course, because that is where he was needed, he would like to eventually teach higher level courses as well.

The money has never been a part of the reason as to why Sandoval would become a teacher. But with the intentions of starting a family down the road, he hopes to one day be a full-time professor.

He said he is not satisfied with where he is now, but he said this is only the beginning.

“My goal is to be a full-time professor at Waynesburg University as soon as possible,” Sandoval said.