Kunal

Kunal started his teaching career as a graduate student Teaching Assistant at Duke University for two years during the time that he earned his Master's degree in Physics. He left nuclear physics research and obtained a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics and Physics from Duke University. Kunal is starting his 29th year of teaching physics at a large public school outside of Chicago, where he has taught all levels of physics. He currently teaches AP Physics C Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism and Physics Honors. Kunal's past school activities include coaching the Ultimate Frisbee Team (1996-2010 and 2016-2020), Robotics (Assistant sponsor 2014-2016), Chess Club (1996-2000), Science Club (1995-1997), and Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Competition (1995-1997).

In 2011, the Highland Park Community Foundation awarded Kunal a Golden Apple with observations from the Illinois Golden Apple Committee. In 2018-2019, Kunal was a semi-finalist for the Illinois Golden Apple Award. In 2020, Kunal was featured on the cover of a monthly Highland Park Neighbors magazine along with his calculator holster, Yoda tie and a mask.

Kunal has been recording his classes daily to make available for students to review since 2001 and available online daily since 2006. In 2020, during the pandemic, his AP physics students introduced him to TikTok and persuaded Kunal to post some past physics demonstrations on his own TikTok page. Kunal's goal is to continue to grow as a teacher and improve on his pedagogy in order to better engage all students.