Noyce Scholar Profile
Josh Males
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: High School Math
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master Teaching Fellowship
Current academic or teaching status:
14 years teaching experience
School and school district:
Lincoln Northeast High School, Lincoln Public Schools
Background:
I earned my B.S. in mathematics from South Dakota State University. I did my student teaching and taught for a year at the Hurlingham & Chelsea School in London. Since then I have worked in both public and private schools.
Why do you want to teach:
I first decided to become a teacher because I wanted to be a positive influence in my students’ lives, and help them become better thinkers and problem solvers.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A few years ago I had a student in an AP Calculus class that wasn’t sure about taking the class, but he decided to take on the challenge. After the first semester he was feeling lost and overwhelmed. At the start of the second semester we had a discussion about his goals and what he wanted to get out of the class. We made a plan and he started working to get caught up. As the semester progressed his confidence increased as he started to understand the concepts. He ended up getting the grade he was shooting for, and earned a 3 on the AP exam.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship will give me an opportunity to continue learning and to become a more effective teacher leader both in my school and within my district. I look forward to working with other Fellows in Nebraska.
