Sierra Bohamera is all about algorithms.

Both in her math classroom at Capital High School, and on TikTok, where she shares her life and lessons to her 500,000 followers.

Growing up in Bend, Ore., Bohamera always loved school. Teachers were the people she looked up to in life.

“I thought they were the coolest people ever,” Bohamera said. “They made me feel very welcome in class and inspired to try.”

As a high schooler, Bohamera interned at a local elementary school and was hooked. She moved to Idaho to attend Boise State University. She student taught in kindergarten and loved it.

But a second student teaching experience in her minor subject area, math, proved to be transformative.

Bohamera struggled in math until the fifth grade, when she had a teacher who let her make mistakes then helped her work through the issue to get the right answer. At the time, Bohamera was shy and the teacher would encourage her to “share your thinking with the class.”

That experience taught Bohamera she can do hard things and it’s a moment she still thinks about 20 years later.

Still, Bohamera didn’t see herself as solely a math teacher, so she was shocked to find she enjoyed working with teenagers. She loved the challenge of earning older students’ trust, especially when they come in a bit apprehensive.

“Math can be intimidating for kids,” Bohamera said. “A lot of times if they don’t get it right away they feel like they’re dumb.”

Now in her eighth year at Capital High, “Miss Bo,” as she’s known, focuses on making class fun. Instead of a worksheet with practice problems, students compete in groups to solve problems quickly.

She focuses on positive reinforcement, building on individual students’ strengths to tackle problems they may struggle with.

The goal is to teach students not just math, but that they can do hard things, Bohamera said.

The students love Bohamera, said Principal Derek Gardner, in part because she connects with them.

“It’s not just a math class where you put your head down and are working by yourself sort of the more traditional way,” Gardner said. “It’s almost the exact opposite of that.”

It’s rarely quiet when Gardner walks by Bohamera’s room.

“It’s a very productive noise,” he said.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Part of that connection comes from Bohamera’s goal of being a role model both in and out of the classroom, he said. Since 2021, Bohamera has posted on TikTok about her life as a teacher.

She posts teacher outfits, lesson ideas, and her adventures around Boise as “ThatTrendyTeacher.” She garnered more than 500,000 followers on TikTok and another few hundred thousand on Instagram.

“I initially downloaded it because I wanted to connect more with students,” Bohamera said.

But she quickly saw other teachers posting and decided it looked fun. Her hope now is to show her followers and students what a well rounded lifestyle is with a good work life balance.

“I always kind of post with the lense of my student is watching and my school is watching,” Bohamera said. “When you grow up, and if you want to do similar things, you can see a positive adult role model in your life.”

Especially at a time when there can be negativity online about the profession and public schools, Bohamera hopes to show people that there are teachers who love their job and have fun doing it.

The goal for Bohamera is to make her class about more than math; it’s about life.

The old adage, “I’ll never use this in real life,” doesn’t bother Bohamera.