Toomas Hendrik Ilves credits his math teacher, Mrs. Cummings, for teaching him how to code and inspire his love for math.
LEONIA -- The president of Estonia said he credits his New Jersey math teacher for helping the country he now runs become technologically advanced.
Before Toomas Hendrik Ilves was elected to the presidency in 2006, and reelected in 2011, he earned degrees at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. Before that, he was valedictorian of Leonia High School in 1972.
It's in Leonia's classrooms, Ilves said Wednesday as he toured the halls of his former school, that Christine Cummings, or as he called her, "Mrs. Cummings," taught him how to code and discover his love of math and technology.
"I owe everything to her," Ilves told a group of students hours before giving a speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations. "Because of what she taught us, my country now uses it."
Estonia has become a worldwide leader in technology. For example, the people who developed Skype were from Estonia, Ilves said. All students in Estonia now learn to code, and he said that the information technology sector makes up about 8 percent of the nation's economy.
Ilves stood in front of his old math classroom with Cummings as they recounted that the class used to share the now-bigger space with a secretary.
Cummings said her special math class was intended for high-performing students and was taught under a partnership with Columbia University. She said she taught Ilves for five years and he was an "outstanding student" and a "pleasure to have in class."
Ilves noticed some changes in his former high school's building as he toured with a number of others, including his wife, Ieva, administrators from the school, Leonia Mayor Judah Zeigler, and State Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen). Notably, the building is now Leonia Middle School. Ilves noted that his cafeteria is now a science classroom and the chairs that were once wooden are now plastic.
Ilves' second term is up next month, but Leonia Schools Superintendent Joanne Megargee hinted at a job offer, "We always welcome back alumni," she said.
"OK," Ilves responded.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.