Noyce Scholar Profile
Sandra Booker
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Life Science, grades 7-12
Category of stipend/stipend/fellowship:
Undergraduate Noyce scholar (junior and/or senior year)
Name of Institution:
University of Texas at Arlington
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Sam Houston High School
Background:
I graduated in December with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a Life Science certification for grades 7-12. I attended McLennan Community College in Waco, TX for two years, and then transferred to the University of Texas at Arlington in the Fall of 2015 to complete my Bachelor's degree.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I love to watch a student have that 'ah-ha' moment when they finally understand a concept that they have struggled with. Science is so important to know in order to be successful in life and in your career, whether it be anatomy, environmental science or biology. Understanding and applying science to your everyday life just makes sense to me.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A memorable teaching moment I had was just the other day. I was leading a biochemical molecules lab in which students tested different food items for said molecules. Every student was on task, I saw no cell phones out during the lab, and every student completed the lab during class time with a few minutes to spare. Keeping all students on task is difficult, so I was excited that they too seemed to be excited about the lab.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has helped me tremendously to get through my last semester of student teaching due to the financial aid and the resources available to me. There are such great opportunities and information available to me now that I am a Noyce Scholar.
