Noyce Scholar Profile
Jenny Burkhart
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics and Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: High School Math
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
North Carolina State University
Current academic or teaching status:
2nd year teacher
School and school district:
West Davidson High School / Davidson County, NC
Background:
I grew up in Davidson County, NC. I was not always sure that I wanted to come back to the school system that I grew up in, but after completing the NOYCE program at NCSU, I knew that I had to come back and put to use the information that I learned.
Why do you want to teach:
I enjoy helping students realize thier potentials in the mathematical field, as many of them have not had this experience before in the classroom.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I once had a student in Geometry who was often misunderstood by others because of his appearance. However, after getting the know the student I learned that he was very interested in designing video games. I used this as an opportunity to relate geometric concepts to his interested and helped him investigate further educational plans beyond high school that he had once not thought possible. He told me at the end of the semester that Geometry was the only math class that he had ever felt that he succeeded in.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The NOYCE program has provided me with the opportunity to grow in my knowledge as a math educator and has opened many doors for me. The biggest door that was opened was that the experiences set me apart from others and helped me obtain a job in which I can educate young mathematical minds.
