Noyce Scholar Profile
Veronica Cade
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Master's in Teaching
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Middle Grades Math
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Current academic or teaching status:
Less than one year teaching experience
School and school district:
New Hanover County Schools
Background:
I am a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, educated in New Hanover County Schools. It was in my 8th grade year that I developed a love for mathematics. I’m a University of North Carolina Wilmington graduate. I have a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Finance. I’ve been out in the work force since I was a sophomore in high school, so I not only return to the university seeking education in a middle grades math, but bring maturity and experience with me. I’ve decided to go after a Master’s in Teaching Middle Grades Math. I am the proud mother of a 22-year-old son and a 2-year-old grandson. My grandson is fully engaged and shows signs of healthy cognitive growth and development.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to pass on the same opportunity to students that my 8th grade math teacher gave me. I want to engage them in math on a level that enables them to leave my classroom with confidence in their mathematical skills and abilities. I want them to be able to use these skills in other life applications.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A memorable teaching moment happened in a classroom at a local pre-school. I was surrounded by 3-year-olds. Their response to every instruction went something like, “Why?” Of course I was a lot younger back then, so answering these questions were a little more of a challenge to me. It was then that I realized I had a preference for students a little older than that. I love children of all age groups, but now I know from personal experience that middle grades is a critical time to keep these students on the right track.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I am so appreciative of this program. It significantly increases my probability of success as a middle grades math instructor. It will allow me to finish my studies with less focus on educational expenses. This program will help me to receive the funding and professional development that I need to be the most effective teacher.
