Noyce Scholar Profile
Kimberly Rausch
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Graduate- Secondary Education
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 6-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Towson University
Current academic or teaching status:
Professional Year
School and school district:
Franklin High School, Baltimore County Public Schools
Background:
I became a student at Towson in 2009 and finished my undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics. My intention was always to be a math teacher and so I found a master’s program at Towson which suited me perfectly. I am currently enrolled in the one-year MAT program and will be teaching (interning) full time at the end of January.
Why do you want to teach:
So many reasons. I never liked math until I got to high school and even completing my math degree helped me realize the stresses of mathematics. I feel like I understand the fear of math that students have, and I want to show them that it isn’t as hard as everyone makes it out to be. I want all students to succeed and will do whatever it takes to help them understand something. I was always told I did a good job at explaining mathematical concepts and that I would make a great teacher. Teaching is the best of both worlds because I get to do math and I get to help people succeed and overcome their fears.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A memorable teaching experience is when I was teaching an Algebra 1 class where all of the students where taking it for a second or third time. These students were very unmotivated. One day a student said, “Wow, class goes by so much faster when you actually do work.” I was shocked because these students never did work before and that comment just proved that at least one student was working and derived a benefit from doing the work.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I am new to the Noyce program so I have not had much experience with it. However, it has enabled me to not worry about how I am going to pay off my student loans, and it has allowed me to focus on teaching and getting my school work done. The Noyce program has been very kind and caring to me and all of its members. It allows us to talk with people who are teaching right now and share experiences while taking and offering advice. So far, it has become a great community with which I look forward to getting closer.
