Noyce Scholar Profile
Jen Katz
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S., Physics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-8
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Boston University
Current academic or teaching status:
First-Year Graduate Student
School and school district:
Fuller Middle School, Framingham, MA
Background:
I grew up in the Boston area and have a strong connection to the city. I have always loved math and science, and completed my undergraduate degree in physics. I recently served as an AmeriCorps member for a year at Tenacity, an organization that runs tennis and literacy programs for youth in Boston.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching is an opportunity for me to continue exploring subjects that I find exciting, while finding ways to make them interesting to others. I have always valued education as the most important thing for young people, and I find it extremely fulfilling to be a part of their lives. I particularly enjoy working with middle school students because I love watching their growth from childhood to adolescence. I feel I have the most connection with this age group and find value in preparing them for high school.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable teaching experience occurred during my AmeriCorps year of service at Tenacity. I served at an organization that provides a literacy-based after school program in Boston that runs through the full school year. During this experience, I spent my afternoons teaching vocabulary words through interactive activities, leading reading groups and discussions, planning and implementing a variety of exploratory electives, and helping students complete homework assignments. The connections I made with the students were incredibly meaningful to me, and their consistent attendance informed me that we were doing a good job of providing a safe and educational program. Additionally, the program’s focus on creative academic activities pushed me to develop my own ideas and form deliberate habits of teaching.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has provided me with an incredible amount of opportunity in my path to becoming a teacher. The high needs focus of the Noyce program reflects my own desire to teach in a community where qualified teachers are most needed. In addition, the program has begun to prepare me for teaching specifically in this environment. At Boston University, Noyce scholars have the opportunity to attend numerous seminars, meetings, and conferences outside of our required classes that are incredibly informative. Lastly, I have felt honored to be a part of a program that includes such motivated, caring teachers that want nothing more than to see their students succeed.
