Noyce Scholar Profile

Sharina Moore
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: MAT Secondary Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Georgia State University/Urban Mathematics Education Program
Current academic or teaching status:
Third year teaching
School and school district:
Redan High School, DeKalb County; Currently in Columbia High School, DeKalb County
Background:
I received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in mathematics in May 2007 with a 3.87 GPA. I began my Master’s degree in June 2007 also at Georgia State. My graduate field of study was mathematics secondary school teaching. I completed my Master’s degree in August 2008 with a 4.0.
Why do you want to teach:
In school, I had some really great teachers who helped to mold me into the woman that I am today. I wanted to make a difference in students’ lives just as some of my previous teachers made a difference in my life. More importantly, teaching in an urban setting allows me to be a positive role model to young males and females who sometimes do not have anyone to look up to in their families. I have both boys and girls coming to me asking me to be their mentor, which makes me feel like I am doing something good. Hopefully, I have not only taught these students mathematical skills, but life skills as well that they can use outside of school.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
For the 2009-2010 academic school year, I participated in an after-school Georgia High School Math Graduation tutorial program in which I was helping juniors study for the graduation test. A week after the juniors had taken the graduation test, I found an envelope in my school mailbox. In the envelope was a ‘thank you’ card signed by the junior class thanking me for helping them prepare for the graduation test. This simple gesture let me know that all of my hard work trying to help these students was not in vain.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
As a Noyce Scholar, I was able to experience first hand what would be expected of me as a teacher in an urban setting. I can honestly say that I was prepared to enter the teaching field. I feel that the rigor of the program as well as the guidance and advice from my mentor teacher has prepared me for a leadership position. Also, the Noyce program brought some really great people into my life. My fellow cohort members bonded through the many group projects and presentations that we had to complete together, and in the end we all were lifelong friends and supporters of one another.