Noyce Scholar Profile
Brian Smith
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Math 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Wake Forest University
Current academic or teaching status:
First Year Graduate Student
School and school district:
Mount Tabor High School
Background:
I attended Wake Forest University as an undergraduate and studied Mathematics. While I was in school, I worked at a local hotel in addition to working with Wake Forest Intramural Athletics.
Why do you want to teach:
I have always enjoyed math. The more I progressed through college level math classes, the more I realized the how often I used the math I learned in high school both in and out of the classroom. I believe that being able to to high school level math well is a key factor in being successful in life. By teaching, I hope to prepare high school students for life’s challenges.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I was teaching a Foundations of Algebra class, which is a class designed for students that have previously struggled in math. The students began the year hoping to get through the class without much thought to why or how the math they were learning made sense. A few months into school, we were having class discussions about why what we just learned made sense in everyday life. This stands out to me because of the dramatic change in attitude and ability that the students experienced. I was very proud of their new found ability to think and reflect, rather than just do and repeat.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
Without the Noyce program, I would not have been able to stay at Wake Forest for a fifth year and get my Masters. I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Noyce program provided.
