Noyce Scholar Profile
Rebecca Schini
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Micro and Molecular Biology
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Science, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
IUPUI Transition to Teaching
Current academic or teaching status:
Master teacher PLTW-four years
School and school district:
Greenfield Central High School
Background:
I worked in a genetic research lab studying the pituitary gland and cell formation. I then received a position in the cell division of a pharmaceutical company where I worked on improving manufacturing processes for clinical trials and developed and carried cell culture for clinical trials. I decided after going through multiple FDA inspections that I wanted to be involved in quality control so transferred to Quality Control for a manufacturing company. I developed procedures, validated equipment, validated chemicals and materials, and performed training sessions for the employees. I really enjoyed the training sessions so I decided to leave the lab and enter the teaching profession. I was a substitute teacher for half of a year and worked at the Lilly summer camp before entering the transition to teaching program at IUPUI.
Why do you want to teach:
I chose the teaching profession because I truly enjoyed the development and training of employees. During the training sessions, the employees were impressed by my skills as an educator and the management wanted me to develop other training sessions. When I left the lab, I entered into a maternity leave at Plainfield High School and appreciated the experience. The high school experience reconfirmed that the professional change I was about to enter was a good move. During the summer I worked at the Lilly science day camp and truly enjoyed working with the kids and teenagers. I found that I was able to share my love of science with kids.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I have reworked the curriculum for ICP and have developed a program that is guided inquiry-based curriculum. I love the “Ah Ha” moment–when the look on a student’s face changes because they understand, or they did a good job on a test when they thought they failed. I strive every year to have my students have that moment, because many of them do not like science. My students have never had that moment which has destroyed the love of science that could be present. That is the most memorable experience I have every year with my students.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program gave me the experience needed to be a professional in my field of study. I would not have been able to participate in the transition to teaching program if I was not a Noyce scholar.
