Noyce Scholar Profile
Jill Klinepeter
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S. Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Wake Forest University
Current academic or teaching status:
Graduate Student
School and school district:
Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools
Background:
I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC where I graduated from Mount Tabor High School in 2006. I then attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. I then decided to attend Wake Forest University to pursue my Masters in Education.
Why do you want to teach:
I have known from a very young age that I wanted to teach high school mathematics. I believe it is the most rewarding profession because you are able to see the impact you are making on the lives of young adults. It is also a great profession for showing students how valuable an education is in the competitive world we live in.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I had a very rewarding teaching experience in a block geometry class where the students were completing a worksheet of word problems. I was helping the teacher provide individual attention that some students needed, and one girl I noticed had a lot more questions than the other students. After some one-on-one time with her, I could see her recognize the steps to solving the problems. I continued to encourage her, and eventually she was able to solve one of the problems on her own. She then looked up at me with the biggest smile on her face and said, “I finally get it!” Just to see the look on her face reminded me of how rewarding teaching can be and why there is nothing else I would rather do.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has provided me with an incredible quality of education. I feel well prepared to teach students of any socioeconomic status and look forward to being able to provide a quality education for all of my students.
