Noyce Scholar Profile
Tyler Gaspich
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Saint Joseph's University
Current academic or teaching status:
Graduate student
School and school district:
Philadelphia, PA
Background:
I attended public school in Ocean Township, New Jersey where I played baseball most of the time. My parents supported whatever I did, and encouraged me to go into mathematics and teaching because of my desire to help students. Through their and my younger brother’s encouragement, I worked through Saint Joseph’s University with the goal of teaching in mind.
Why do you want to teach:
I find that education is more than just a profession, but an art. The study of student cognition always interested me, and seeing this process first-hand is incredible. The process of seeing students understand and (hopefully) succeed becomes one of the greatest rewards possible.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
In my senior year of college, I was a teacher’s assistant for a course for incoming freshmen. At the conclusion of the course, the students had to evaluate how helpful I was, both in the classroom and during review sessions. The students found my teaching style to be extremely successful, claiming they “would not have passed without my help.” This moment reassured me that teaching was for me, and student success is the number one goal.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This program has given me the opportunity to focus on becoming a better teacher for a wider range of students. By focusing on a somewhat unique student demographic, I am able to add techniques to my teaching arsenal and better help students who may not have the best surroundings. By seeing how these students think about math, I can better assist all students in the long run.
