Meet Chris Coogen!

As part of our ongoing series Meet Our GDS Faculty and Staff, we are excited to present: Meet Chris Coogen!

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Chris.

Primary Role: LMS Innovation and Computer Science Teacher and Chair

Pronouns: he/him/his

Years at GDS: 3

What do you love about GDS?  
I love how open and helpful the staff was even when I first started here, and how everybody looks out for each other. I think that's just wonderful. Also, the faculty here are really skilled in their crafts, and there is a lot of attention to the students—it's the student-first and families-first approach that I share. And it's nice to be around other people who care. I'm always impressed by the commitment that I see among the faculty. 

Why do you do your job?
When I came into education, I was thinking about how to potentially impact and make a difference in the world. That's also in an approach at GDS—the component of changing the world. Coming out of college, I really wanted a profession where I felt like I could help young people, and initially, I worked with students with learning differences. That was my specialty for a long while, and I feel like it made me a better teacher because it made me think about my lessons and how to incorporate project-based learning; to ask questions like “Where's my hook? How is this exciting? How do I draw the students in and hold their attention?” I think about the different modalities of what I am giving them. Is it something kinesthetic they can manipulate? Am I giving them something visual? Am I giving them something auditory to learn, to hear, and to like? Is my lesson going to have components of all of that? I think I eventually gravitated to [the innovation and computer science] department because it lends itself to design and creation. 

A favorite part of your job?
The students, and also the freedom to help them develop an interest in something specific. For example, we’re studying architecture, and right now, we’re looking at Frank Gehry’s buildings, both the artistic value of all this work, and also the CAD programs that built them. We’re exploring where computer science was involved in the development of this art form, and it is the freedom to bring all of that together into one project that I think makes it attractive. 

Your work style in a few words?
The idea of focusing on project-based lessons. As I develop my work style, I want to tap into the more creative side of things. If we're going to program, what are some of the next technologies? I’d like to stay on top of that and keep that flexibility to adapt. 

A top hope/wish for your students and/or colleagues?
My top wish is to build a sense of confidence and accomplishment in my students; for them to truly embrace that the concept of success in a project requires multiple steps of failure. I wish for them to embrace the idea and the comfort of not having to always be right the first time—these speed bumps, these hiccups, are a necessary part of the process. For example, we printed a 3D design here that didn’t work. But that's just part of the process, so we went back, we refined, we reprinted, until it worked. When we were looking at Frank Gehry, one of the interesting aspects was that his work isn’t as planned out as you would expect. We looked at twelve renditions of the same building. Not only did he have this idea, but he built twelve scale-model buildings of the idea to get to the one right form that he was looking for. Baked into that is also that grit, that determination to stick it out. In technology, that's huge because technology is full of hiccups.

Personal passions/hobbies/pastimes?
I’m a lifelong tinker. As a child I enjoyed taking things apart, and then not always putting things back together correctly. I was fascinated by how things worked and what the science was behind the machinery and engineering. I have a fondness for motorcycles. Even at a young age, I would find old machinery in barns and find classic or vintage discarded vehicles that would appear to never be able to run again, and I would bring them back to life. I like looking at something and thinking, “That's not junk, that actually can be polished and painted and that engine can be taken apart and we can rewire that and get it running.” It’s something I still do. I never let go of the first motorcycle I ever had, and I have a bunch of high maintenance items that eventually, I feel like I'll get to. I also enjoy being outdoors: kayaking, biking, hiking. I like exploring. 

A few favorites?
I love music. There’s no one genre that I really fall in love with. There's so much of each era that really fascinates me, and what I choose to listen to depends mostly on my mood. 

Travel?
I hiked the Camino de Santiago [in Spain]. I wasn’t doing it seeking a spiritual connection, but by the time I was done with it, it did feel spiritual. I felt like I could turn around and walk all the way back. It was such a beautiful place, along with the places along the route. My wife and I weren’t married yet, but we walked it together, and we were just getting to know each other. When we were done, we felt like if we could spend a month walking across Spain together, we would be good together. It’s like a condensed form of life.

Tell us about your family and/or pet(s).
I have a wife and two children. My son Sebastian is at GDS in fourth grade, and my daughter is at Janney Elementary. Family has always been incredibly important to me. I’m pretty close with all of them. We’re mainly out of New York and Brooklyn, but my brothers and my mom and dad all live within a couple hours of me now. So it makes visiting with them incredibly easy, and it definitely gives me peace of mind. 

One thing about yourself your students/colleagues/others probably don't know?
Sometimes I'm probably not as carefree as I come across. I overthink what I need to be doing, but I hide that well. I used to be a musician in a band, and part of me views teaching as “show time.” So regardless of what's happening before the curtain opens, when the curtain opens, you're on! 

Something on your life bucket list you have yet to accomplish?
I love to travel, and there is a lull in my travel right now because I’m focused on family. My kids are young. But when they are older and I have more time, I’d like to explore the Trans America trail, which is an off-road motorcycle trail that goes from coast to coast, on my motorcycle.