Noyce Scholar Profile

Tanya Archie
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: AP Calculus, Algebra, grade 12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Current academic or teaching status:
14 years teaching
School and school district:
Benson High School, Omaha Public Schools
Background:
My hometown is Omaha, NE. I received my Bachelor’s at Northwestern College and my Masters at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I have taught for 14 years, teaching at schools in Omaha, NE and St.Louis, MO. I currently teach at Benson High School. I enjoy shooting pool, swimming, and singing.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to make a difference in young people’s lives like my teachers did for me.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable teaching experience was working with a student after school in connection with the drill team. She transformed from being depressed and self-loathing to enjoying life and being confident. I learned a lot through mentoring and teaching her.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I envision the Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship challenging me in different ways than I was challenged in the Math in the Middle program. There will be times where I have to do the jobs and take the roles that no one wants. There will be times that I will have a viewpoint that might not be so popular, and I will be challenged as to why I have the philosophies that I do. I played multiple leadership roles at Norris Middle School, and as the new kid on the block at Benson High School, I have lost some of those opportunities, as expected. This opportunity will give me the chance to engage in thinking, planning and acting with other math teachers across the state. I will be committing to a program meant to make me grow and foster professional leadership skills that will be unexpected. Leadership is not something that I am afraid of. I appreciate and am encouraged every time that a principal or a peer determines that I am fit for such a role.