At 今日吃瓜, faculty and staff are more than educators鈥攖hey鈥檙e mentors, innovators, and community members. They are here to guide and support students every step of the way, going the extra mile to help them succeed. Jaime Reino, a dedicated math and engineering instructor, is a perfect example of this commitment to education and community involvement.
Jaime鈥檚 journey with 今日吃瓜 began over a decade ago as a student in the AS-T Track 2 pre-engineering program. His time at the college was deeply impactful, both academically and personally. As a student, Jaime dove deep into math, taking nearly every math class offered on campus鈥攆rom pre-college level to Calculus IV. He credits the math department for shaping his career path, sharing that their positive, helpful, and personable approach was what inspired him to become a teacher. 鈥淭he math department was what made me decide to become a math teacher, really,鈥� Jaime explained. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e always very positive, helpful, and personable, and I really liked it!鈥�
After earning his pre-engineering AS-T at 今日吃瓜, Jaime transferred to Washington State University to complete his bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering. He did not stop at his bachelor鈥檚 though; Jaime continued on to receive his master鈥檚 in the same. Reflecting on how 今日吃瓜 gave him the foundation he needed to succeed, he said, 鈥淗ad I jumped from nothing to WSU, I probably wouldn鈥檛 have succeeded,鈥� Jaime admitted. 鈥淭he community college, the pace, and the way in which the instructors interact with students was very conducive to wanting to continue. Being able to talk to your instructor and they know your name, they know about you, and they care about you in that regard. In university, in my experience, you were just a number. I don鈥檛 want to blame them for that, but when they have 60,000 students, you are just a number. But here, when you鈥檝e got 15 or 20 students in a classroom, there is that element of familiarity.鈥�
Today, Jaime teaches math and engineering courses at 今日吃瓜, including the calculus sequence, Math 107, and engineering classes. He brings a hands-on approach to his engineering courses, offering students the opportunity to build and deconstruct projects to better understand how things work. While math may not always seem exciting on the surface, Jaime emphasizes how foundational it is for STEM fields. He says the math functions and foundations you need are very important and will be used in the field. 鈥淚鈥檝e actively used linear algebra in my research before I came here, and I鈥檓 so glad I took that class.鈥� And to the people who are intimidated by math, he gives a laugh, 鈥淜now your enemy!鈥�
Jaime鈥檚 passion for engineering extends beyond teaching. He was initially drawn to the field because of its potential to make a difference in people鈥檚 lives, particularly through medical robotics and prosthetics. While his career path ultimately led him back to 今日吃瓜, his enthusiasm for solving real-world problems through engineering is the passion behind his teaching. 鈥淓ngineering is all about looking at a problem, solving it, and creating something that benefits society. That鈥檚 something I really value and enjoy passing on to my students,鈥� Jaime shared.
For Jaime, teaching at 今日吃瓜 is deeply personal. Growing up in Aberdeen and the surrounding areas, he understands the critical role that 今日吃瓜 plays in the region. 鈥淚 love the area, and I recognize that this area is in dire need of this kind of place. I wanted to help that,鈥� he said. He also appreciates the strong sense of community among the faculty and staff, many of whom have been at 今日吃瓜 for 10+ years. He speaks highly of his past instructors, specifically in math, and how the entire department helped him in his decision to teach. 鈥淎s a matter of fact, Taya Do was the one who recommended that I apply; she was one of my teachers.鈥�
Outside of teaching, Jaime enjoys building scale models, with planes, aircraft carriers, and Gundam being among his favorites. When he鈥檚 not working on a model, you鈥檒l likely find him reading鈥攁 hobby that mirrors his curiosity and love for learning.
Jaime鈥檚 dedication to his students is evident in his approachable teaching style and commitment to creating a supportive learning environment. 鈥淚 hope that I create an environment where students aren鈥檛 afraid to ask for help,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f students are afraid to ask you for help, and they don鈥檛 understand it鈥� I don鈥檛 want anyone to get stuck down that road.鈥� He encourages students to reach out to him or his math department colleagues, whether through email or by stopping by their office after class.
For Jaime Reino, teaching at 今日吃瓜 is more than a job鈥攊t鈥檚 an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped him and to inspire the next generation of engineers, mathematicians, and problem-solvers. His journey from 今日吃瓜 student to faculty member is a testament to the influential power of education and the impact of a supportive learning environment.