Noyce Scholar Profile
Jenny Sarna
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Biology (High School)
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
UChicago Urban Teacher Education Program
Current academic or teaching status:
2nd Year Graduate Student, 2 year teaching
School and school district:
Kenwood Academy High School - Chicago Public Schools
Background:
I studied science at Notre Dame and graduated in 2007. After working at a youth homeless shelter in Fort Lauderdale, I began to consider a career in Education. I found out how much I enjoyed being in the classroom when I taught Biology for two years at an American School in Mexico. I chose my program, Chicago UTEP, because of the program’s strand design and the support that it provides for teachers.
Why do you want to teach:
Teaching is a job where you can make a difference every day. Teachers facilitate learning, and learning is the foundation of a purposeful life. Teaching is certainly one of the most important, rewarding, and unique professions in the world. I have had a lot of amazing teachers along the way and hope that one day I will impact lives as they have.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
My most memorable teaching experience was studying monarch butterflies with 7th graders in Mexico. Over the course of the year, we studied various dimensions of the monarch butterfly and finally, we visited El Rosario Monarch Sanctuary. I believe that my students became more curious about science and more passionate about conservation.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The support of Noyce affirms my belief that teaching is extremely important and challenging work. The Noyce Program’s grant has allowed to spend more time focusing on my studies.
