Noyce Scholar Profile

Amy Sabel
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: 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
Current academic or teaching status:
Substitute Teacher
School and school district:
Fond du Lac School District
Background:
I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics in 2000 and returned to school to earn my teaching license in 2009. During that time, I have lived happily with my husband and three children in our hometown of Fond du Lac, WI.
Why do you want to teach:
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved working with numbers, figuring out problems and hearing statistics about things. I had considered the idea of teaching many times throughout my life. After receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Math and starting my family, I realized that teaching really was the perfect job for me. I wanted to inspire my students to see the beauty that I do in math and instill in them the desire to want to learn more about it.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I can’t choose one single moment that stands out for me, but I can tell you that teaching has allowed me to meet some wonderful and amazing children. If there is anyone who worries about our future, they shouldn’t. There are tons of great kids out there who are smart, caring and respectful. They can lead their peers and even inspire adults to want to learn more. I just hope I have inspired them like they have inspired me.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program allowed me to follow my dream of becoming a teacher. As a returning student who already had a bachelor’s degree, there was very little financial help out there for me. I had a young family, and the bill to return to school would have been too much for my family to bear. The stipend helped ease some of the pressure and allowed me to go back to school.