Geometry teacher Matthew Sokolowski was recently chosen to be the new coordinator of the literacy center.

The position became available when former Point coordinator and English teacher Scott Bramley left Niles North to serve as the English Department chair at Evanston Township High School on Aug. 21.

Sokolowski served as the literacy liaison for the math department last year. In that capacity, he attended many meetings and workshops to learn how to incorporate literacy into the classroom and share these techniques with his colleagues in the math department.

“It never crossed my mind a math person could be [the Point] coordinator,” Sokolowski said. “I thought it was an English thing.”

However, using what he learned from the literacy meetings, Sokolowski soon realized that literacy is cross-curricular and can apply to more than reading and writing. “[Literacy] is the ability to understand and communicate ideas, thoughts, processes and solutions,” he said. “If you can’t explain your ideas then what good is that? Being literate ensures success in all of your classes.”

He took the next step by talking to Director of English Tony Bradburn and applying for the job.

Sokolowski’s first official day as Point coordinator was Sept. 7. His white board is full of ideas and his desk is littered with paperwork and Chipotle napkins with even more ideas and plans on them.

Going forward, Sokolowski’s goal is to build on Bramley’s foundation by keeping the Point a comfortable, fun place where tutors and tutees alike  enjoy studying and working. “It’s important for the coordinator to have a good rapport with students,” he said. “One of the most important parts of my job in keeping the Point successful is to continue having positive, meaningful interactions with students.”

Sokolowski also hopes to showcase how useful the Point can be, introduce literacy into other subjects and help other departments utilize the Point more fully by increasing the number of tutors and tutors-in-classroom (TICs).