Independence High School math teacher Grant Bangerter has maintained a weekly tradition for over ten years, preparing homemade soup for students and staff every Friday. According to a November 3 report, Bangerter pairs each batch of soup with a written story he calls his "soupy memoir."
The tradition involves a multi-step preparation process that requires daily work. Colleague Christine Yaccarino stated that Bangerter often arrives before sunrise and stays long after the school closes to prepare the food. In addition to the portions for students, Bangerter brews a large kettle of soup for faculty, staff, and visitors on Fridays.
To earn a "soup pass" to visit room 200, students must complete specific math assignments. For example, an October 9 write-up asked students to complete assignments to earn the opportunity to try the soup. In recent weeks, students have worked on graphing lines using point-slope form and taking quizzes on graphing linear equations.
The community has supported the initiative through various donations. In September, Bangerter noted that students, parents, and teachers provided tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, and watermelon. Other contributions included eggs from a family with backyard chickens and oxtails from a sister-in-law.
One specific batch, which Bangerter named "Brooke’s Rice-A-Roni Chicken Enchilada Soup," was named after a student named Brooke during a parent-teacher conference evening. The recipe for that batch included chicken, rice, pasta, vegetables, sour cream, and enchilada sauce.
Bangerter was recently nominated by Christine Yaccarino for the October Provo Way Award, which he won. Yaccarino highlighted his mathematical knowledge and the patience he demonstrates when working with students facing challenging behaviors. She noted that his efforts help ensure every person at Independence High School feels included and cared for.
