Noyce Scholar Profile
Lilit Gertner
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Physical Geography and Geology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Science, grades 6-8
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of New Hampshire
Current academic or teaching status:
Master's Student
School and school district:
6th Grade Science, Dover Middle School, Dover, NH, 2013-14 school year
Background:
I grew up in New Canaan, CT where I spent my entire education in the public school system (which was an incredible experience). I went on to get my Bachelor’s in Physical Geography with a Hydrology certificate and a Geology Minor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In between my freshman and sophomore year in college, I did an AmeriCorps volunteer year as a Literacy Aide at Dupont Elementary School in Commerce City, Co. I stayed in the school district and was an 8th grade special education para-professional before returning to my own studies. I worked briefly as a cartographer before deciding to attend the University of New Hampshire to get my Master’s in Middle School Science Education.
Why do you want to teach:
I love knowledge and sharing it with others, specifically science. I was also fortunate enough to have a fantastic public school education, and I believe that everyone deserves the same. I want everyone to get the same joy out of learning that I do, and want to share my passion. I know science can be very difficult for a lot of people; I want to make it as accessible as possible.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I had a second grade student (let’s call her A) who was struggling with reading. At the beginning of the year when we would work together, she would just put her head down on the desk and tell me she was stupid. Throughout the year I worked with A not only on her reading but her self esteem. A was immensely immaginative and bright. As time went on, her reading and spelling started to improve, but more importantly so did her attitude about herself. She even started raising her hand in class to answer questions! In our last meeting of the year I said “A, how do you feel?” She looked at me with a big smile and said,”Smart!” Without another word, she skipped back down the hallway to her classroom. I know that I had a big part in changing how A felt about herself and her ability to learn. Her whole attitude about school changed. It is an experience I will never forget!
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program is helping to prepare me for the types of students I want to reach most. It is training me in a way that my school program couldn’t do alone. In the future it will connect me with a network of individuals in my same situation and give me a community of support that will help keep mey afloat during challenging times. I am incredibly grateful to the Noyce program for all it has to offer and for the opportunity it has provided me to actually afford my studies!
