'Mr. Math' left lasting impact on U-46

From his license plate to his title around the school hallways, Stephen Graham answered to one name: "Mr. Math."

For nearly 40 years, students and parents alike in Elgin Area School District U-46 referred to the longtime teacher with that affectionate greeting, acknowledging both his passion and mastery of the subject.

"When he became ill, students and their parents wrote to tell him how he had taught them to love math," says his wife, Bonnie. "Somehow, he was able to teach them the beauty of math, and of its place in the world."

Mr. Graham passed away July 6. The former Streamwood resident, was 62.

It was in 1967 that Mr. Graham began teaching in U-46, serving as a math teacher at Tefft Middle School in Streamwood, were he remained for the next 17 years.

"Mr. Graham was the consummate professional," says Lavonne Smiley, Tefft Middle School principal. "He truly was passionate about his work and he conveyed that passion in his instruction to the many gifted students who passed through Tefft Middle School during his tenure here."

From Tefft, Mr. Graham moved to become the gifted teacher at Horizon Elementary School in Hanover Park, before making the transition to work in central administration, developing curriculum for gifted programs.

Steven Klein, former head of the district's gifted program before becoming student affairs director, points to the Challenge Math program Mr. Graham implemented for high ability math students.

He also credits Mr. Graham with designing a special program for students gifted in both math and language arts, as well as designing the "School Within a School" concept, which pulled gifted children out of the classroom for enrichment classes.

"Steve not only shared his gifts with students, he was looked upon as a mentor to all of the teachers in the gifted program," Klein said. "His advice was sought by all who worked with these special students."

Mr. Graham also worked with district officials to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who had the potential to succeed in higher education, by offering them tutoring and other outside opportunities, funded by the a grant from the Illinois Talent Search.

Outside the classroom, he enjoyed moderating student teams that participated in the statewide Odyssey of the Mind, a creative problem-solving competition.

Mostly, colleagues, say, Mr. Graham liked being in the classroom. Consequently, he returned in 1995 to teach at Sycamore Trails Elementary School, and in 1997 at Eastview Middle School, both in Bartlett, before returning to Tefft until 2000 when he retired.

Mr. Graham couldn't stay retired for long. He returned as a substitute teacher, and most recently, he taught two classes at Elgin Academy.

"He loved math so much that even when we got a new garage door, he wanted to use a math theorem for the keypad code," his wife says. "Now, who else would think of that?"

Besides his wife, Mr. Graham is survived by his sons, David and Jaime, as well as stepchildren Jenny Fout, Ben Bailey, Ron Stroud and Jeff Stroud; as well as three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.

A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 Highland Ave. in Elgin.