Noyce Scholar Profile
Kerry Foltz
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Marine Science
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology, Secondary Edcuation
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Clemson University Masters of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education
Current academic or teaching status:
Master's Candidate
School and school district:
I will be placed in a classroom this fall; uncertain of the district currently.
Background:
I originally grew up in the upstate of South Carolina, where my father was a professor of fisheries biology and ichthyology. As a child, I would attend his field trips to streams and lakes. I always thought it was really interesting to learn about the different fish species and the environment.
I attended Furman University, where I received my bachelors of science in biology. During my undergraduate career, I was given the opportunity to travel abroad during the summer for an internship. This internship involved working with two professors studying the threat of fisheries bycatch to Hector’s dolphins in New Zealand. This led me to become very passionate in the field of marine science and conservation. I went on to intern at Mote Marine laboratory, and then received my masters of marine science at Hawai’i Pacific University.
Why do you want to teach:
After graduating from Hawai’i Pacific University, I took some time to try substitute teaching. I realized how vital science education is at the secondary level. I also realized that I want to be involved in education and outreach in the field of environmental and marine science, along with teaching biology at the foundational level so that students gain an understanding of its value to society and the environment.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
While substitute teaching, I was able to sit in and observe a biology teacher’s regular and honors classes. It was really awesome to see how well he interacted with his students, and adapted his teaching methods to the nature of each class. He really helped the students become engaged in the material covered, and helped them connect what they were learning to everyday life.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This scholarship has been a wonderful opportunity for me. I have my fair share of student loans to pay back from my previous degrees, and this scholarship is really helping me throughout this next degree. I am very grateful to the program, and to be able to be a Noyce scholar itself provides new learning opportunities, while also allowing me to focus my goals towards working in a high needs area. I think this will be a challenging, yet incredibly rewarding experience.
