Noyce Scholar Profile
Rich Oppelaar
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
North Carolina State University
Current academic or teaching status:
Graduating May 2011
School and school district:
Knightdale High School, Wake County Public School System
Background:
I am a graduate student in the MAT program for Secondary Mathematics. I received my BA in Statistics from Rutgers University in 2008.
Why do you want to teach:
I would like a career that involves interacting with people continuously while making a difference in their lives at the same time. I was enthralled by mathematics in high school, so it feels right to pursue teaching those subjects with the same passion that they motivated in me
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
While teaching a lesson on completing the square using algebra tiles, half the students in the class had that “AHA” moment simultaneously. Seeing that look on a student’s face when they have a big leap forward in their understanding of a concept brings me great satisfaction. That moment I saw it happen for many students at the same time, which made it that much more satisfying.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The NOYCE program is allowing me to pursue my teaching degree full-time.
