Mark Amasuga, from the cubicle to the classroom | Humans of Catlin Gabel

By Chip Downes-Le Guin ‘25

Hailing from Walnut in Southern California, new Catlin Gabel math teacher Mark Amasuga’s interests and journey to teaching give him a unique connection with students.

Amasuga’s teaching passion first began in high school. “I was in my AP Calc class and my teacher was getting kids together to help tutor other kids for the AP test.”

He enjoyed it, even being advised to become a teacher, and continued to cruise through high school.

“I had, like, mostly A’s, but I didn’t really do much work. I was just kind of lazy.”

However, Amasuga’s college experience left more to be desired. He stated “I did pretty poorly in my first couple years… I was on academic probation after my sophomore year.”

After this incident, Amasuga’s mindset changed. “I just buckled down and really tried hard,” he stated. “I got my masters and got a 4.0 there ‘cause I was really applying myself.”

That experience allowed him to see “both sides of the coin,” an important part of his teaching philosophy.

“I know what it’s like to be one of the top kids that just kind of is being lazy, and doesn’t really put their full potential forward. And then, I also know what it’s like to struggle,” stated Amasuga.

Another part of his approach to teaching is trying to make himself “less and less necessary…as the year goes along.”

He continued, stating “I feel like I shouldn’t even have to be in the classroom by the end of the year, you guys should kind of just know what to do.”

After graduating college, Amasuga got a job in computer programming but hated the experience. He described it stating “You just sit in a cubicle, just that’s it. That’s your day. Nine hours a day, you just sit there…Just every day is the same.” He continued “There are highs and lows for teaching, but it’s not the same thing every day.”

After a year and a half at this job, he quit and a few weeks later applied to an opening from a nearby high school. He described the hiring process: “I got an interview, and I got hired with no experience or anything. I just got hired like, oh man, this might be a red flag.”

Amasuga bounced around a few Southern Californian high schools until 2021. “Everyone was moving after COVID. I was like…I should move to Oregon.”

He continued, “It was funny because I actually applied to Catlin…and I never heard back and another school hired me so I went there.”

Undeterred by this, Mark applied again this year, got an interview, and got hired, now teaching two Pre-Calculus classes and two Honors Calculus II classes.

Outside of school, Amasuga’s hobbies include video games, board games, and basketball.

Amasuga’s video game interest began about 20 years ago, with the NES and Gameboy, some of his favorite games being Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.

He described them: “Seeing that little light gun, and pushing the trigger and seeing it actually do something on the screen. It was amazing!” He continued saying “You guys just don’t understand how crazy that was.”

His single-player gaming has continued into adulthood. He stated “I’ve never really gotten into the multiplayer stuff. I know that’s why you guys play these games. The Fortnites and stuff.”

Despite this, Amasuga still finds that video games offer him another level of connection with students saying “I know a lot of other kids that play the single-player games too.”

Another one of Amasuga’s lifelong interests has been basketball. His basketball passion began when he was young watching the Lakers, and hooping after school. “I didn’t play for the school, but I was in a little junior league.”

He continued to play basketball through college and still does today. Now you can become his next HORSE victim if you challenge him during co-cu, and get your name put on his website.

While at Catlin, he hopes to “continue the tradition of great math teaching here… but just add my own little flair and personality to it.”

He added, “I can only hope that my math class is one that kids actually look forward to, or at the very least, not dread going to!”