Noyce Scholar Profile
Olga Kahler
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: M.S., Electrical Engineering
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Current academic or teaching status:
Graduate student
School and school district:
Student Teaching (Fall 2011) with Garold Furse, a Noyce Master Teaching Fellow at Pound Middle School
Background:
I have over 20 years of experience in the areas of math and computer science in Russia working in a branch institute under a National Space Research program. I also have over six years experience teaching Math and Science as a Gifted Mentor for the Lincoln Public Schools and have prepared students to compete in American Mathematics Competitions 8 and 10 sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America, and the annual University of Nebraska Lincoln Math Day competition.
Why do you want to teach:
I enjoy teaching and I believe I can be a good teacher. I see the teaching career as a very special one. To pursue it, one has to either love it or drop it. Children can intuitively sense the teacher’s attitude. There is no way to be dishonest and hide your face while standing in front of your class. I believe that the culture of a classroom is a product of inputs made by all the students and negotiated with a teacher, school community and bonded with common goals and interests. If such a balance is achieved in a classroom, it may reach far beyond the classroom walls in terms of distance and in terms of time as well.
I want to be a teacher and teach them valuable lessons with a magical flare.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I think I was very lucky with my teachers. At this time I don’t remember much of what they said, but I remember very well the feeling of comfort and the joy of learning. I love to learn, that makes the most of what I learned from them. And now I know I can do lots of things and can learn how to do more.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
At this point it is everything to me. I love to teach; I have always wanted to. And probably I would have never been able to reach my dream without support provided by the Noyce program. Even more, I enjoy learning from great professors like Dr. Fowler, Dr. Donsig, and Dr. Marley. I love to study in the friendly environment of the University and the rewarding team work with my fellows. I’ll preserve it in my heart and bring it to my classroom to share with my students.
