Noyce Scholar Profile
Elisheba Evans
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of North Texas
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Teach North Texas Program
Background:
I grew up in Lewisville, TX and graduated from Lewisville High School in 2004. I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas in Austin and after two years, I took a break from college and worked as a community organizer for an environmental campaign. My time in the workforce was invaluable in that it motivated my decision to finish my bachelor’s degree and become a teacher. I got married in 2008, and my husband and I moved to Denton, where I enrolled at the University of North Texas (UNT) as a math major in the Teach North Texas program. I am really enjoying my studies and training, and am excited about my future career as an educator!
Why do you want to teach:
For as long as I can remember, I always imagined what I would do if I were in my teachers’ shoes. What were they doing right? What would I have done differently? I think that deep down, I always knew that teaching would be a great profession for me, but it took a little soul searching before I decided to pursue a career in education. My time as a community organizer awakened a desire within me to actively work toward the changes I wanted to see in my community. One of the most powerful ways to evoke social change is through education. As a teacher, I feel that I have an opportunity to do something both fulfilling and meaningful. Our youth our are biggest investment, and they deserve a quality education from teachers who care about them and their success. We hear a lot of debate over the need to “raise the bar” in the public school system, and I am ready to play an active role in that endeavor!
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
Since I am still in school, I am still on the student-end of my most powerful teaching experiences. By far, the most impactful experience for me as a future educator was my time in a UNT class called Functions and Modeling, taught by Dr. Neal Brand. Through challenging activities, we worked in groups to derive formulas and discover mathematical concepts whilst tackling our own misconceptions and developing a deep understanding of the content. For me, the most impressive part of this class was that Dr. Brand let us, the students, do the majority of the talking and explaining. We were utterly responsible for our own learning, and Dr. Brand took on the role of a guide, giving us direction, focus, and motivation along the way. Not only have I never been as challenged in a math class, but I have also never found math so enjoyable and understandable.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has been a big help for me financially as well as personally. When I received all of the wonderful manipulatives and classroom materials that came with my scholarship, it made me really excited to get into the classroom. I know that when I start teaching, the Noyce program will continue to help me to grow professionally and succeed in my field.
