Marcus Neal: The Sum of the Equation

Cissy Pope

Marcus Neal has long been considered one of the great mathematical minds. An upper school math teacher, he will quickly tell you that things didn’t exactly start out that way. While he had an obvious affinity for math as a young student, preferring to complete math homework first, he never considered himself a “great” math student.

A combination of influential mentors, dogged determination, and a true love of numerical equations helped propel Marcus on a journey that eventually found him sharing that same love of mathematics with Hammond students.
 
Inspired by a hardworking grandfather who was an elementary school principal during the week, a barber on Saturdays, and a pastor on Sundays, Marcus began reading algebra books from his grandfather’s bookshelf at an early age. While he laughs when he admits he didn’t understand the math books he was reading, he read nonetheless.
 
By 6th grade, Marcus was selected for a math magnet program led by Jonathon Rushman. According to Marcus, “Being in Mr. Rushman’s class lit my world on fire. To this day, I credit that experience for getting me hooked on math.” It was then that he began participating in Math Counts competitions, although not always placing at the top of the meets. “I wasn’t particularly good at Math Counts. I was somewhere in the bottom of the local competition. There was another student ahead of me and that inspired me to try harder. I began carrying a math book around everywhere I went.” With a laugh, Marcus recalls going to the mall with his mother and sitting outside the dressing room reading math books while she tried on clothes.
 
Marcus’ hard work paid off when by 8th grade he came in second to the student with whom he had quietly placed himself in competition. By 10th grade, Marcus had won the University of South Carolina Math Competition that included a full scholarship to the school. Instead, however, he chose to attend the Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, eventually becoming a Princeton University graduate.
 
You might just say the road that led to Hammond was paved with serendipity. In 2003, he was teaching at Kaplan preparing students for the MCAT and taking care of an ailing mother when former Headmaster Dr. Herb Barks called him to talk. By the end of the conversation, he had been hired to teach one math class.
 
The following year found Marcus teaching a full load of classes with former math teacher, Mary Peterson, serving as his mentor. “I know Hammond has a legacy of great math teachers and I have an obligation to those who came before me to continue that tradition,” he is quick to point out.
 
While Marcus serves as assistant coach of the All-State Math Team, and in 2012 coached the U.S. team for the Pan-African Mathematical Olympiad in Tunisia, he is proud to call Hammond home. “The family atmosphere at Hammond is unsurpassed. The school has been here for me through good times and bad … I get so much love from people. There’s a community here that’s very special.”
 
As for the rest of the equation, Marcus and his wife, Marcela, are the proud parents of Lower School Skyhawks Layla and Sebastian. We’re looking forward to even more mathematical genius from the Neal family in the coming years … in fact, we’re counting on it!