Rita Korsunsky, AP Calculus BC and Algebra 2/ Trigonometry teacher

“I had really good math teachers growing up, and I wanted to be like those math teachers,” AP Calculus BC and Algebra 2/Trigonometry teacher Rita Korsunsky said.

Because her parents were teachers and she had positive, influential math teachers throughout her years at school, Korsunsky wanted to be a math teacher since childhood. After moving to the U.S. from Baku, Azerbaijan, she taught math at multiple California schools in cities including Fresno and Milpitas before joining Lynbrook in 2000.

Consistent throughout Korsunsky’s teaching career, her goal has been to explain the concepts she teaches as clearly as possible. She gets the most excited when her students understand the material and ask additional questions to dive deeper into topics. Appreciating Lynbrook’s supportive and safe and positive learning environment, Korsunsky has been able to immerse students with detailed learning and help them develop skill sets useful in the future. 

Although Korsunsky has been recognized with numerous accolades, such as earning the prestigious Edyth May Sliffe Award twice, she feels proudest when students name her as one of their most influential teachers.

“Students say I made a change in their life — this is the most important to me,” Korsunsky said. “Not the awards, but just that I was influential.”