Noyce Scholar Profile
Janet Bean
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: BS in Chemical Engineering and Master of Arts in Teaching
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Middle and High School Mathematics
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Louisiana State University
Current academic or teaching status:
in 4th year
School and school district:
LSVI (Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired)
Background:
My undergraduate degree is in Chemical Engineering. When changes in my personal life led to a change in profession, I found being a math teacher would allow me to continue to work with numbers while also allowing me to meet my family commitments. I received my MAT as well as state certification to teach grades 6-12 Mathematics.
Why do you want to teach:
I have always loved math and so have been bothered by most others’ disdain for the subject. I believe the reason students “can’t do math” is they have not been taught at the right time in the right way.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
During my teacher training, I had the opportunity to work with students in a community-based classroom. These students found many subjects and situations vague and ever-changing. In math however, they found something concrete that they could depend on and be certain of the correct answers. They encouraged me that ALL students can be successful in math!
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
Being part of the Noyce program has helped me make the financial adjustment to a teacher’s salary. It has also kept me connected with the professors from my graduate program and activities there. Last, through the national conference, it allowed me to meet with teachers and other professionals for 2 days of networking, learning, and sharing.
