Michael Cannon
Air Force Academy High School
About
Michael Cannon teaches physics and pre-engineering at Air Force Academy High School, located behind Guaranteed Rate Field (Sox Park). He has been teaching for 18 years with experience also teaching chemistry, biology, environmental science, and earth science. Fall of 2018 will begin his third year at “Air Force.” He attended Lindblom Technical High School but earned his diploma from Quigley South Preparatory Seminary, located in Chicago.
He obtained a B.S. degree in chemistry from Chicago State University in 1999 and immediately began teaching at Best Practice High School on the West side of Chicago. He enjoys teaching physics because he believes physics taught to ninth graders prepares them well for later courses in chemistry and biology. Pre-engineering provides his students' opportunities to explore the engineering design process as they invent useful products or improve on existing ones. Michael is praying that he will have the chance to teach overseas so he can share a new adventure (or two) with future students.
This summer during Michael’s BEST Fellowship, he was working in a tribology lab helping Dr. Mathew and the research team to better understand the factors that affect wear and corrosion of dental implants.
He created a curriculum unit applicable for both physics and engineering topics. This unit investigates the social-economic impact of wear and corrosion. By drawing parallels between American society fighting an aging infrastructure and the personal problems adolescents face with declining dental health, self-esteem, and future income potential, he hopes to create a learning environment rich with meaning and lifelong applications.