Noyce Scholar Profile
Bruce Nyberg
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Applied Mathematics
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:
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh act! Program
Current academic or teaching status:
Completed the program
School and school district:
Substitute teaching only
Background:
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics, I spent the next 24-plus years in the Information Systems field, working as a Programmer and then Systems Administrator. When the company I last worked for closed its doors, it gave me the opportunity to think about my next career options.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching has always been something I’ve wanted to do. Coming out of high school, I remember saying that I wanted to work in the computer field, then become a teacher later in life. My father was an educator, and I remember how much he enjoyed his work. So when I started substitute teaching 2 months after my job was eliminated, I decided to pursue a new career as a licensed teacher.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
In each of my student teaching placements, I had a student who was struggling to understand the concept being taught. These were a couple of students who historically had not done well. What set them apart for me was that they asked for extra assistance. I really enjoyed seeing the moment that they “got it” and also was impressed that they had learned how to help themselves by looking for extra help. Did either one go on to be the top of the class? No. But they each provided me with a moment that I will remember.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
If the Noyce program didn’t exist, I probably would not have been able to return to school. Financially, it made it possible to survive the 4-plus months of student teaching.
