Noyce Scholar Profile

Erin Fixico
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Algebra, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
East Central University
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior
School and school district:
Latta Public School
Background:
I graduated high school in 2008 from a small school around the Ada, Oklahoma area. This is my third year at East Central University. Last year I was awarded three Foundation scholarships from the Education Department along with the Noyce Scholarship. I want to become a secondary math teacher and I also want to become a high school softball coach.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I love seeing the childrens’ faces whenever they understand what I have been teaching them and the light bulb clicks on.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I recently worked with a student who had been struggling in class so I helped her study for her next test. After two hours of studying, she started blurting out answers before I could even read off all of the question. Surprisingly, she was smiling after that much studying. She was more confident in herself and that made me happy that I was a part of it.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has been a huge help to me. It means that I have more time to study because I have not had to work as much as I had in previous semesters. I was very excited and felt privileged to be given such a great award.