Mathematics and Computer Science

The Math and Computer Science department faculty model their joy of teaching and hope to foster a similar love for lifelong learning in their students, by providing opportunities for students to explore deep mathematical concepts in a collaborative and inclusive academic environment.

Andrea Sorrells

Name

Biography

Andrea B. Sorrells is embarking on her 28th year as a teacher of mathematics. A native of Georgia, she received her B.A. from Agnes Scott College and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. For 16 years she taught mathematics in the public school system. During that time she was nominated for the PAEMST—Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and in 2000 she received the UConn Huskies Teacher of the Year Award. Andrea joined the faculty of Choate Rosemary Hall in 2010 in the Mathematics and Computer Science department. In the summer of 2011, she began her work with Choate Summer Programs as a math teacher. Over the next 10 years she served as a teaching intern mentor, a middle school girls dean, and Interim Dean of Students.

Andrea lives on campus with her husband Brian, who works in the Choate library and her two children both of whom attended Choate Summer Programs and Choate Rosemary Hall. Isabel graduated from Choate in 2019 and David is a member of the Choate Class of 2022. Andrea is passionate about the intersectionality of teaching and E&I work. In 2018, she participated in Choate’s inaugural SEED cohort and joined the Driving Equity Committee at Choate. In 2020, she was a founding member of WARE (white antiracist educators) and currently serves on the town of Wallingford’s Equity and Inclusion Committee.

Faculty Information

Department(s)

Mathematics & Computer Science

Title(s)

Department Head, Teacher

Title to display in Job Title field

Mathematics Teacher

Contact Information

Work Phone

(203) 697-2061

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Course Previews

Here are just a few classes offered by the Mathematics and Computer Science Department:

Game Theory

This elective is an introduction to game theory and strategic thinking. The course covers mathematics – logic, probability and statistics – with an emphasis on application. Beginning with representations and basic assumptions, including the extensive form; strategies and the normal form; beliefs, mixed strategies, and expected payoffs; and general assumptions and methodology, the course moves on to analyzing behavior in static settings.

Introduction to Programming

Students learn the basics of algorithmic thinking, and design programs to solve simple problems. A number of different programming environments are used including highly structured programming environments such as Alice and Scratch. Students gain familiarity with robust programming languages like Python. Students learn the basics of variables, loops, conditional statements and standard data structures such as arrays and dictionaries.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is the process by which computers train themselves to make predictions and ultimately, decisions based upon data. In this course, students will use powerful software libraries to construct adaptive and predictive models. Students learn the basic concepts, tools, and techniques of adaptive computation and machine learning and proceed through a series of increasingly complex projects, culminating in a project where students program and train their own intelligent systems.

Application Development

FINANCIAL ALGEBRA

This course examines the mathematics of personal finance, with an emphasis on solving practical and applicable problems. Fundamental financial topics are explored, including time value of money, present value, annuities, amortization, present value of annuities, and the power of compounding. Students learn about various financial challenges that they will face during their adult lives such as buying a car and/or house, saving for college and/or retirement, implications of taxes, and how to use credit. Students explore sources and challenges of financial inequities of our society through projects that build upon the tools learned. Projects may include family wealth tied to owning a home, fair tax vs. current US tax system, the possible link between inequity and credit scores, or place as a determiner of one’s health, wealth, and education. Spreadsheets are the primary calculation tool for the class, and students will increase their proficiency and skill as the class progresses. Applications of statistics and probability are worked in through numerous projects.

Course Descriptions

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