Noyce Scholar Profile

Jasmine Johnson
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.A., Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Texas at Arlington
Current academic or teaching status:
2nd year of teaching experience
School and school district:
Williams High School, Plano ISD
Background:
I received my Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics with a secondary teacher’s certification at the University of Texas at Arlington. I currently have a 7-12 Mathematics teacher certification. I am in my second year of teaching at Williams High School in Plano ISD.
Why do you want to teach:
I enjoy teaching and am pleased to have the chance to excite students about mathematics.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I taught one lesson on exponential functions. My students went outside and bounced different types of balls that were made of different compositions (golf balls, basketballs, tennis balls, and nerf balls). They discovered how the composition of the ball affects the height of the ball after each bounce. They found that the heights of the balls represented exponential functions. After collecting data outside, they came back in and created a table, graph, and equation for each ball. The students had a blast, and I also had a blast watching them have fun and learn at the same time.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has meant so much to me. Not only did the program help me financially with the opportunity to finish my undergraduate degree, but it also has supported me in the classroom. Any questions that I have about teaching strategies or professional development to go to to help me in specific areas are answered by the Noyce staff.
Everyone is great with giving me that support.