Alumni Spotlight: Aaron Chernin

RSM has been a consistent part of Aaron Chernin’s life, starting as an RSM student, transitioning to an RSM Camp Counselor, then RSM teacher, and ultimately an RSM Principal! Aaron previously worked as the principal of RSM Nashua, New Hampshire and is now the principal of RSM Livingston, our newest branch in New Jersey. Learn more about Aaron’s journey with RSM in this question and answer blog. 

What do you remember about starting math classes at RSM?

I started RSM in 4th grade, back when RSM Newton was at one of its earliest locations. My first teacher at RSM was a very caring, passionate teacher, who I came to know as RSM founder, Mrs. Khavinson. 

My first few months at RSM were challenging. School math had been pretty easy for me and I had always considered myself to be top of my class. Coming to RSM, where there was a classroom full of strong students, solving difficult problems, was certainly an adjustment for me. 

Were there any particular teachers that had a big impact on you?

Mrs. Rifkin and Mrs. Khavinson really made an impact on me. Mrs. Khavinson taught me to enjoy the process of figuring out a problem, while Mrs. Rifkin taught me to persevere, even when the idea of succeeding seemed insurmountable.

Can you share a moment where you struggled at RSM?

I remember struggling a lot in 9th grade, particularly preparing for the SAT IIs. During my practice tests, I could never get above a 650 and I was sure I’d fail on the actual exam. I had done well at RSM but I just couldn’t crack the code of that test. Mrs. Rifkin kept pushing me to rethink the problems, to focus on the basic concepts, and to let the logic flow from there. I ended up getting a 780, a grade much higher than anything I had ever managed to get on a practice test. I remember telling Mrs. Rifkin about the grade I earned and that was the first time that I was able to look back at my entire RSM experience and see my achievements. 

How did your RSM education shape your college experience? 

My RSM education really helped me in college, and it wasn’t just in math classes. Math isn’t the only subject where you can use mathematical thinking. The ability to organize relevant information, think outside the box, and find elegant solutions helped me in so many classes, including history, English, and even “History of Hip Hop.” Even outside of the classroom, these same skills allowed me to adjust to living on my own for the first time and better understand the changing world around me.

How did you stay connected with RSM over the years?

During my early college summers, I worked as an RSM camp counselor and during later summers, I taught math classes at RSM Acton. I also stayed close with my RSM classmates, several of whom I remain close friends with to this day.

What inspired you to come back to RSM as a principal?

After college, I evaluated what I really liked to do and I came to a few realizations. I thought about my summers as a camp counselor and as a teacher and I knew that I’d want my future to involve working with children. I also loved the feeling of solving a challenging problem, that “ah-ha!” moment that comes with math, and the satisfaction of something that might seem challenging at first, later becoming easy with understanding. RSM felt like a natural place to combine these interests!

What values do you think are most important in your role as a Principal?

When people look to a principal, whether they are a student, a parent or a teacher, they’re really looking for somebody that cares about them on an individual level and somebody that can understand them beyond being “just another face.” Without taking the time to connect with people, the job becomes much harder to succeed at.

How do you relate to current RSM students, knowing you’ve been in their shoes?

RSM is all about building a mathematical mindset, but this isn’t necessarily something that students realize at the time. One of my goals is to help our students get excited about RSM. Younger kids are thrilled to be doing more advanced math and to be ahead of their peers. Older kids, on the other hand, get a sense of accomplishment from the tangible results they get from SATs, math competitions, and AP tests.

What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting at RSM, whether they are a student or teacher?

RSM takes time! You can ask any experienced teacher or student about how their first year at RSM compares to where they are now, and they always talk about how much they’ve grown. If things seem challenging at first, just know that every RSM student, teacher, and principal was once in your shoes.

Do you have a favorite math joke or pun?

If you’re cold, just go stand in the corner. It’s 90 degrees!

Thanks Aaron! We’re looking forward to seeing how you bring your experience and passion for math education to the Livingston, NJ community!