Computer science teacher Peter Brooks’s speaks Hungarian, French and English. His favorite language, however, would have to be Java.
Though Brooks has been at Stuyvesant for only two-and-a-half years, his novel teaching methods and innovative ideas have captured the attention and adoration of Stuyvesant students and teachers alike. With his quirky mustache and warm smile, Brooks is always ready to lend an ear to a confused student or to converse with a fellow computer science enthusiast.
Before becoming a teacher at Stuyvesant, Brooks lived in Hungary and then Canada. After spending the first five years of his life in Budapest, Hungary, his family moved to Montreal, where Brooks learned English and some French. At the age of 13, he moved to California, where he began attending seventh grade. “I was shocked when I first attended an American school […] everything was so informal,” said Brooks. He was not used to American mannerisms and students who did not wear school uniforms.
Brooks loved learning from a very early age. “In my spare time, I liked bicycling and, embarrassingly, solving math problems. Of course, we’re at Stuy, so I guess I don’t have to be quite so embarrassed about that,” he said.
Brooks continued his education at Caltech, where he studied and cultivated his passion for mathematics. But while working as a software programmer for a summer job, Brooks became interested in computer science.
Brooks worked various programming jobs after graduating, including working on the creation of one of the first world wide web browsers, SlipKnot (no, not the band, but Brooks says he occasionally gets misdirected fan mail). SlipKnot later received the Ziff-Davis Award for Best Shareware Communications Program of 1995.
Brooks moved from California to New York to attend graduate school, where he majored in economics. During this time, he grew a long “hippie” mane and served as a social activist. He worked for nonprofit political groups and unions, championing causes like workers rights in the United States and the fight against apartheid in South Africa.
After he left school, Brooks taught programming to adult students. He then founded his own software company, MicroMind Inc. He spent 20 years developing software and managing his company, which has won awards for its innovative products.
The company is responsible for the development of RUN/C, the world’s first interpreter for the C computer programming language. Brooks also developed MagHerc, a text enlargement software for the visually impaired, which the United Nations currently distributes.
Now, however, “My company is asleep [...] we’re not really producing anything,” Brooks said.
Brooks first heard about Stuyvesant when he began to hire programmers who were Stuyvesant graduates. These alumni introduced Brooks to former Assistant Principal Mathematics Daniel Jaye. Brooks expressed an interest in taking up teaching again and began guest lecturing Stuyvesant classes, teaching small lessons in advanced math classes.
He soon realized how much he enjoyed teaching and, after earning a teaching certificate, began to teach computer science full-time. Brooks is also the supervisor for the Math Intel Research class.
Brooks’s computer science class is an experience that stays with many Stuyvesant students. “I still remember comp sci with Mr. Brooks. I was scared to death of computers, but he was so much fun that I actually learned some interesting stuff,” said senior Ada Zhang.
Colleagues also appreciate Brooks’s positive personality. “Mr. Brooks is an excellent teacher, with a great sense of humor,” computer science teacher Ashvin Jaishankar said.
Brooks applies his expertise in software to teaching. He has developed a Web site that keeps track of how many minutes are left in a class period. His students can also check their grades online through Brooks’s Web site.
Now in his mid-50s, Brooks has his hands full as a father of two, owner and president of MicroMind and a teacher. “I’m having the time of my life at Stuyvesant. This school is full of interesting kids that really wake you up and teach you,” he said.