Noyce Scholar Profile
John Hoofnagle
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mechanical Engineering
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Secondary Math & Physics
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Northern Iowa
Current academic or teaching status:
Student, Iowa Teacher Intern License Pathway
School and school district:
Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools, Valley Lutheran HS
Background:
I graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1989 as a Mechanical Engineer and served on a nuclear submarine and in Naval Intelligence for 7 years. I left the Navy and worked for several large and small medical device companies and earned a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Western Michigan. Most recently, I left a position as Director of R&D to move to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to enable my wife to teach at the University of Northern Iowa. I have been substituting extensively to prepare myself for teaching and to better understand the job I hope to being soon.
Why do you want to teach:
After reflection on what I enjoyed most about my jobs since graduating from USNA, I realize it was my time teaching, particularly math & science. I have quickly confirmed that I can make a difference for my students, I can connect with them to motivate and inspire, and I can get complex material across to them in ways that stick.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable experience comes frequently when I substitute at Cedar Falls and Waterloo area schools. It’s nice to hear from teachers, principals and staff that they get what they need when I teach. They tell me that students often understand material they couldn’t get until I taught it, lesson plans stay on track, and teachers appreciate the effort I put in. The memorable part is that I’m the only substitute whose name I hear students happily exclaim down the hall before first period when I walk in the building.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has reinforced that I made the right decision and that my choice is valued by others.
