Whether a student is having trouble with a complicated math problem or wants to talk baseball or work on their swing at the plate, Pivot Riverside Educational Coordinator Brandon Gragnano is there to help.
Brandon discovered early on that math was a passion which set him apart from his peers. “Towards the end of elementary school, I realized that it was just fun to be good at math. But then I also realized I enjoyed helping my friends improve their understanding of math, as well. That’s when I knew that I wanted to become a teacher.”
It’s been four years since Brandon became a part of the Pivot family, and he knows it’s the right place to be. “What I enjoy about working at Pivot is the flexibility, personalization, emotional connection with students and staff and the collaborative atmosphere. Our format not only allows me to be more attentive to my student’s needs but also my well-being.”
Brandon finds that one of the most exciting parts about being a teacher is when a topic finally clicks for a student, especially if that topic is math. “For a vast majority of our student population, math is their least favorite and most difficult subject. Because students have such a difficulty with math, it is so much more gratifying when I can achieve a breakthrough with a student.”
Pivot Riverside’s team environment of students, staff, and parents, Brandon says, contributes to the positive and enlightening impact teaching has had on him. “Each student has shown me a unique perspective of their situation that I would not have had the opportunity to learn from in a setting different from Pivot,” says Brandon. “Every student has provided me an opportunity for professional and personal growth, and I would not trade that experience for anything, good or bad.”
When Brandon isn’t teaching, he enjoys watching and coaching baseball and traveling with his wife Chelsea, who is pregnant with their first child – a boy. “I look forward to coaching my son in baseball, teaching him math, and continuing to travel with my growing family.”