Ron Bender says his passion for teaching mathematics came from his University of Waterloo days and the professors he had like Ralph Stanton and Ken Fryer.
Ron grew up in northern Ontario, starting school at Joseph Kennedy P.S. in Matheson, then going to Timmins H. & V.S. After graduating from the University of Waterloo, he went on to the University of Ottawa, then settled in the Ottawa area.
Ron’s career includes teaching at Merivale H.S. in Nepean, Gloucester H.S. in Ottawa, Earl of March S.S. in Kanata (department head), West Carleton S.S. in West Carleton Township (department head), plus acting as a mathematics consultant for the Carleton Board of Education and a curriculum resource
teacher for the Ottawa/Carleton District School Board. Ron has also taught at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Education.
He is the winner of a Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence and an Outstanding Mathematics Teacher Award from the Carleton Board of Education Mathematics Subject Council. His department at West Carleton S.S. received the Ken Fryer Award in 1994.
Ron helped to create a much-lauded mathematics evaluation project for grade 10 and for O.A.C. calculus. He also directed a self-learning centre at West Carleton S.S.
Ron’s work with students included coaching volleyball, hockey and mathematics competition teams.