Noyce Scholar Profile
Sarah Meloni
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Boston University
Current academic or teaching status:
2 Years Experience
School and school district:
Framingham High School
Background:
I attended the University of Connecticut and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. During my years in school, I volunteered as a tutor at a rural middle school, and as a college applications counselor at an urban high school.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching is a job that is challenging and rewarding every day. Sometimes, it is difficult to get students motivated about a subject (mathematics) that is often shied away from or feared. However, when a student finally understands something, piques an interest in a topic, or even shares a math joke, it makes me believe that the barrier between mathematics and the students has been broken down. I teach because I want to break down that barrier between every student and have them find an interest in the field. As a result, they tend to learn more, which is always a positive outcome.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I have had many memorable experiences while teaching, but the moments that I often look back on are when former students return for academic help, advice, or just to say hello. These events are memorable because I am able to see how my former students have grown; many of them come back more confident and mature, both academically and socially. They are often excited to share how a topic from our Geometry class has appeared in Algebra II or how they have become a more active participant in class.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has created new opportunities for me, and taken me in directions that I would not have necessarily gone on my own. I truly enjoy teaching in a high-need district, and without the support and guidance from the Noyce program, I am doubtful that I would have been successful in an urban district. The post-graduate seminars provided allow me to continually educate myself and improve my teaching.
