The community member of the month is a member of the high school community (student or teacher) nominated by their peers for their contributions to the Brookline High School or wider Brookline community. January’s community member of the month is Erica Hou for her work with the Middle School Math League.
At 7:10 a.m. every Wednesday junior Erica Hou can be found at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School (FRR). With a cheery attitude and a calm demeanor, she helps coach students in the Middle School Math League.
Not only does Hou volunteer as a coach at FRR, but she is also the junior coordinator for the Middle School Math League. They have programs at FRR, Baker, Lincoln, Driscoll and Pierce. Hou started as a coach during her sophomore year and became the junior coordinator this year. Hou has made a positive impact as an organized coordinator and thoughtful coach, according to those working with her.
Hou said she views the Math League as a chance for students to learn more advanced math concepts in a positive environment that allows them to form connections with each other.
“Math League is a good opportunity for kids to see new math content that they wouldn’t typically see in middle school,” Hou said. “It’s fun being able to work with friends and work out math problems as well.”
Senior Allie Olive, the senior coordinator for the program and co-coach with Hou at FRR, has been working with Hou for two years. Olive said many people aren’t aware of middle school activities, but that it’s important to recognize Hou for her work.
“It’s kind of hard to see the impact she’s having on the community, because we’re at the high school, and some people don’t really put in the effort to know what’s going on at their middle school,” Olive said.
Hou was in the Middle School Math League in fifth grade at Runkle which led to her signing up as a coach.
“I enjoy math a lot, so it was fun being able to work with kids and meet them every week and talk about math and do problems together,” Hou said.
Victoria Cavanaugh, a 7th grade math teacher at FRR, helps Hou with Math League meetings. Cavanaugh said despite the early morning meetings, Hou always shows up with a positive attitude and helps the kids learn new math content effectively.
“Erica has really creative solutions to problems that can get complex, and she can break those down in ways that are really accessible to the students, and I think students feel comfortable asking her questions,” Cavanaugh said. “Going above and beyond before her own school day is just really awesome.”
Hou said that while taking a leadership role this year has been difficult, it has also been rewarding.
“When things are organized, you feel really satisfied. And the students in each school are able to have coaches and learn more math which is good for the students,” Hou said. “And for high school coaches to gain volunteering hours and experience as coaches for kids as well.”
According to Olive, organizing the math league requires excellent organizational skills for the program to run smoothly. Olive said she respects Hou for her coordination.
“She knows what’s expected of her and has such a capability to understand who is relying on her, and she has the responsibility to say, ‘Okay, I need to get stuff done,’” Olive said.
Cavanaugh said that Hou has reached out to her for other volunteering programs she plans on doing.
“I always get the sense she’s not doing [volunteer work] for the hours or to check a box, but that she really cares, and that’s noticeable, and I appreciate that,” Cavanaugh said.
Olive said that although Hou has an authoritative role as a coach, she creates an atmosphere in which she views middle schoolers at math league as her peers. Olive admires how Hou works intentionally.
“She will work so hard, and find so many ways to make the kids understand something,” Olive said. “I think it’s a really good skill to have to be able to focus on someone else for that long, it’s a really selfless thing.”