Noyce Scholar Profile
Farrell Rogers
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: B.S.-Zoology/M.Ed. Secondary Science Ed.
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Middle School Science(6-8)
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of South Florida/Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship
Current academic or teaching status:
22 years teaching Middle School
School and school district:
Marshall Middle School, Hillsborough County Schools, FL
Background:
I graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Zoology. I continued through at UF to earn my M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education. Although I had originally planned to teach Highschool, my first position ended up in Middle school and I fell in love with teaching science to this group of students. I am just completing my 22nd year of instruction. I earned my National Board Certification in 2000 and renewed in 2010. I have been the Science Dept. Chair at my current school for the last 14 years, however for the last five years I have also functioned as a Science resource Teacher/Science Coach. This role expects me work with teachers to help them improve and have a positive impact on our State Science Scores. I have done various trainings for my district and the state. I have also been fortunate enough to have participated in 6 RET experiences at various universities around the country. Several years ago, I started and designed a Robotics Program at my school. I was a large part of getting that program implemented in various other Middle schools.
I do have a life outside of teaching. I have a wonderful wife, son, dog,4 cats and on my spare time teach and try to compete in medieval sword fighting.
Why do you want to teach:
To be successful at teaching, one must be continually learning. I LOVE learning new stuff about the universe. AND I also love the feeling I get when an activity or explanation I give causes a light bulb to turn on in a kid’s head.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
After completing an RET experience at a University, I taught the lesson/unit I had created. Because of the time I was allowed to put into the creating of the lesson over the summer, the lesson was a huge success the 1st time I tried it and has been ever since. It was so rewarding to see a lesson go so smoothly after putting that much time into it. I have since shared that activity with the entire grade level and it has been used by other teachers. Gravy!
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
Being awarded the Noyce Fellowship has excited me in two specific areas. As a resource teacher, my role is to assist teachers and help them improve. I feel there are areas I can improve in this. The other area is a bit selfish. Whenever accomplished science teachers get together in a setting such as Noyce provides, ideas and knowledge are shared. I am always looking to learn more specific ways to integrate math and science. When I teach, I have a theme…”Science is using math to measure the universe”. The merging of the math and science teachers in this program will be a great benefit. Although I am only starting the MF Program, I am very excited for what the next five years will have in store.
