‘Easygoing’ math teacher Mr. Sinajon leaves after five years

HELPFUL%3A+Students+described+Mr.+Sinajon+as+being+supportive+and+understanding.+He+taught+at+least+five+different+courses+during+his+years+at+Shalhevet.

Screenshot by Evan Beller from BP video

HELPFUL: Students described Mr. Sinajon as being supportive and understanding. He taught at least five different courses during his years at Shalhevet.

By Amalia Zucker, Features Editor

Mr. Andrew Sinajon, math teacher and Robotics faculty advisor since 2017, did not return to Shalhevet for the 2022-23 school year.

Mr. Sinajon, who could not be reached for comment for this story, taught many of Shalhevet’s math classes — including Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Algebra 2 Advanced, and SAS Statistics. 

He also coached Team 6000, the Firehawks robotics team. With his help, Shalhevet finished as regional champions at the 2020 FIRST Robotics competition, which was only the team’s fourth year competing. 

Shalhevet’s longest-serving math teacher, Ms. Tamara Gidanian, who worked with Mr. Sinajon through his whole time at the school, appreciated his calm nature and willingness to cooperate.

Statistics is one of my favorite subjects, and he definitely made it enjoyable to learn.

— Alon Keiter, 12th Grade

“He’s a very knowledgeable person,” Ms. Gidanian said. “The math department can feel his empty space.”

Senior Batsheva Glaser worked under Mr. Sinajon for three years as a member of Team 6000, and also took his Algebra II class in 11th grade. 

Batsheva remembers Mr. Sinajon being very encouraging.

“He really wanted us to do the best we could,”  Batsheva said. “He was very supportive.”

Alon Keiter, 12th grade, took his SAS Statistics course last year.

“Statistics is one of my favorite subjects, and he definitely made it enjoyable to learn,” said Alon.

Alon also found him to be a very accommodating teacher.

“He was very easygoing,” he said. “There were some classes I missed, [and] he was very understanding of my circumstances and was willing to make it work for me.”

Ms. Gidanian noticed the same thing. 

“I would see him, many many times, sitting with students one-on-one,” Ms. Gidanian said. “He helped them understand concepts that they didn’t understand in class. I knew that he stayed at school late most days to help students.”