Sometimes it can be hard for students to get to know core subject teachers. The Red Ledger’s Katie Curry is trying to change that in the following Q&A with pre-calculus teacher Andrew Stallings.

The Red Ledger: How long have you been a teacher and where have you taught?

Stallings: “Nineteen years. This is my 7th year at Lovejoy. I have taught at Allen High School and at a private school in Richardson called the Dallas Learning Center which is a school for at risk high school students.”

The Red Ledger: As a kid, what did you think you were going to grow up being?

Stallings: “In this order: astronaut, scientist, musician, entrepreneur, musician, scientist, and then teacher, and I pretty much did all of those. When I was little-bitty I wanted to be an astronaut and then I wanted to be a musician, which I was, and then I got to teaching.”

The Red Ledger: What are three hidden talents that you have?

Stallings: “Music, art, writing (I write poems.)”

The Red Ledger: What is your experience with music?

Stallings: “I made a living as a musician for a little while, not a very good living. I studied music for four years at the university level and then changed majors.”

The Red Ledger: What is your all time favorite song?

Stallings: “‘Awaken’ by the band Yes.”

The Red Ledger: What is your favorite movie?

Stallings: “I think the movie that had the greatest impact on me was a movie that I saw as a kid, and it was probably the original Star Wars movies.”

The Red Ledger: If you weren’t a math teacher, what other subject would you teach?

Stallings: “I like literature and composition so either that or science. I’m not certified to teach chemistry and physics and stuff but it’s an area of interest.”

The Red Ledger: What do you like to do outside of class?

Stallings: “I like riding bikes, being on the water, hiking, being around my family, bird watching, fossil hunting, rock collecting, writing music, and playing music.”

The Red Ledger: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

Stallings: “In 10 years, hopefully, I will have completed my trigonometry textbook.”