The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

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Nicole

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Noyce Scholar Profile

Nicole Benkers

Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Genetics and Bacteriology

Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Earth Science, grade 8; Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics, grade 9

Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow

Name of Noyce institution:
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh/Fox Valley; ACT2Teach

Current academic or teaching status:
7 years of teaching

School and school district:
Potosi (WI) School District

Background:

I attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for undergraduate Genetics. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to teach high school or college, so I proceeded to the University of Washington – Seattle’s genetics program. After earning a Master’s degree in Genetics, I knew I wanted to teach in high school. I was in an alternative teaching program in Washington and taught for several years before returning to Wisconsin. Not licensed in Wisconsin, I needed to go through a program to add a Physics license. That is when I found the Act2Teach program, an accelerated program that would allow me to add a Physics license while filling the requirements for a Wisconsin teaching license.

Why do you want to teach:

I love inspiring students with interest in science and learning. I like the constant challenge of finding new ways to teach content for different students. Our youth is the future; we need to inspire them to love science when they are young to have hope of having new STEM graduates.

Describe a memorable teaching experience:

In Washington, students needed to pass a basic skills test to graduate. In my second year of teaching, I had a senior in chemistry who could not perform long division or work with fractions without a calculator. After being appalled that he had gotten so far without being taught those basic skills, I told him to start coming to me during my lunch (his study hall). I tutored him daily. When he passed the test and graduated, I knew I had made a difference. This young man had slipped through the gaps at a large school and would not have graduated without the extra help.

What does the Noyce program mean to you:

The Noyce program allowed me to get a Wisconsin license with Physics, in addition to the subject areas I had in Washington. I work in a school with a high poverty rate but with a great community. I am able to reach a variety of students, building math and science skills they will use in any career.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant Numbers DUE-2041597 and DUE-1548986. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

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