Noyce Scholar Profile
Joseph Steele
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Current academic or teaching status:
First-year graduate student
School and school district:
Omaha Central High School
Background:
I have a B.S. in Math from UNL. I have a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I worked as a software developer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Why do you want to teach:
I enjoy teaching, and I enjoy math. I think I can do a good job explaining math concepts clearly, and I want to help high school students learn the math skills necessary to be informed citizens and voters.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
Freshman year in high school I had a history teacher (Father Christiansen at Pius X) who was able to teach history lessons as an unfolding story. He showed how events followed from what went before – the first history class I’ve had that could do that.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program has made it possible for me to change careers, and pursue what I really want do to – encourage young people to pursue an education in math and science.
