(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Real Salt Lake Academy math teacher Steve Mond reacts to his win on the prgram during the watch party at the school, Friday, May 11, 2018, as they showed his performance in the JEOPARDY! Teachers Tournament.
Utah math teacher Steven Mond was in third place, with $10,600, as he headed into the final round of “Jeopardy!”
The topic for the contestants: U.S. history.
He’d take home prize money regardless — a $2,500 educational grant — but his goal was to end his appearance on the Teacher Tournament with $16,000.
The answer — er, question — went beyond bumping him over his goal, sending him into first place and the tournament semifinals, where he has a chance to win $100,000.
As soon as Alex Trebek finished the clue, “President Madison is credited with the first of these two-word actions; he didn’t sign an 1812 bill after Congress had adjourned,” Mond started writing.
At a watch party Friday evening, cheers rang through the Real Salt Lake Academy cafeteria as his response was revealed:
“What is a pocket veto? $6,000.”
He didn’t hesitate. He’s read a biography for every U.S president from Washington to Harding, he said.
Besides, he’s seen “The West Wing.”
“Oh, I’ve binge-watched it several times,” said the math teacher.
He’s also got a law degree.
“So I’m pretty familiar with the Constitution,” he said. “That was not a tough get.”
An enthusiastic and beaming Mond also got cheers for pop culture knowledge, fielding correct questions like “Who is Tupac?” and “What is ‘Happy Gilmore?’ ”
Mond taught at three other schools in the valley before joining Real Salt Lake Academy this year, its first. He says he incorporates soccer strategies into his math lessons for youth athletes.
He said he plans to use the money — whether the $2,500 he won on Friday’s show or the $100,000 grand prize — to buy equipment so the students can start a podcast club.
The podcast will give students a chance to learn how to edit and publicize school events and news. It will also give some of the athletes a chance to practice interviews and other media skills, he said, “a win-win for everybody.”
On Friday night, he wouldn’t reveal whether he’d won the ultimate prize.
His semifinal episode airs Monday, and the final round airs Thursday and Friday, all on KJZZ.
At one of his previous schools, Rowland Hall, his ninth-graders gave him a nickname: Big Money.
Next Friday, his new students will find out whether that’s prophetic.