Noyce Scholar Profile
Morgan Barnett
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S., Adolescence Education: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
SUNY Cortland
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Field Experience-Lansing Middle School, Whitney Point Middle School & High School, Moravia Junior/Senior High School
Background:
I have lived in the Binghamton, NY area my entire life. I graduated from Union-Endicott High School, Endicott, NY in 2008, and during the 2007-2008 school year I also attended Broome Community College (BCC) in Binghamton part-time. I stayed at BCC for another year and then decided to transfer to SUNY Cortland. This is my second year at SUNY Cortland. I will be student teaching the spring of 2011 and graduate in May of 2011.
Why do you want to teach:
I had a seventh-grade math teacher who inspired me to become a teacher. As I saw how much she cared for the students in her class and how the students achieved, I knew I wanted to have that experience. Since then, throughout high school and college, I have learned about the impacts a teacher can make on a student. I want to impact my students’ learning and have as many students achieve as possible. I want to teach our future the basic skills they need to succeed in life.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My last high school math teacher taught AP Calculus. Every single day her lessons were so detailed and planned so perfectly to the second. Her class was very large, but it was one of the most smoothly run classes I’ve been in. Just before the bell rang at the end of each class, she would finish her very last point just in time. All year I thought, when I am a teacher, I want my classes to run as smoothly as her’s. She had many years of experience before I had her class, but my goal as a teacher is to have lessons that leave no room for wasted time. Teachers have very little time with their students, and the time we do have should be spent wisely.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Scholarship has made an enormous impact on my life. I have been able to work less while in school, leaving more time to focus on my classes and student life. This semester I am taking 15 credits, two math courses, one programming course and two education courses. Next semester I will be student teaching. I was very nervous about balancing work and student teaching, especially calculating in driving time to wherever I am placed. This money will help me tremendously while I am student teaching so that I only have to work a minimum amount of time. This will also influence my decision greatly if I will go to graduate school full-time or part-time. I am extremely grateful for this scholarship!
