Noyce Scholar Profile
David Kuralt
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: 7th and 8th grade pre-algebra
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Utah/SMART Program
Current academic or teaching status:
First year in-service teacher
School and school district:
South Hills Middle School/Jordan School District
Background:
I graduated from the University of Utah in 1996 with a B.S. degree in mathematics. Over the last 12 years, I held various jobs in the financial services industry, working for a time as a credit union loan officer and also as a trading representative at a brokerage firm.
Why do you want to teach:
While I learned much in my previous jobs, I found that I felt none of the sense of purpose that I now feel as a teacher. A good teacher’s influence on a young person can last a lifetime. I remember that my own teachers instilled in me a sense of optimism about my future, and a belief that I could accomplish anything.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
When I worked at a brokerage firm, I tutored two of my coworkers in their college math classes. They both passed their classes, and one of them commented that I should go into teaching. At first, I dismissed the idea. However, this comment from my coworker stuck with me, and I thought about teaching more and more. I began investigating what I needed to do to become a teacher, and the steps I took have led me to where I am today.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program has not only helped me to achieve my goal of becoming a teacher, it has brought me into contact with other education professionals who are committed to excellence in education. I have enjoyed tremendous support from this program in my own professional development. I am in an environment where ideas flow freely, and I benefit from the different perspectives of my colleagues.
