Noyce Scholar Profile
Amanda Stein
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Mathematics, grades 8-11
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Florida State University/ FSU-Teach
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I have helped to teach children in my mother’s elementary school classes. For four years, I have been a swim instructor for the YMCA and Red Cross. I also participated in a program during my high school years that tutored struggling third graders for the FCAT.
Why do you want to teach:
I have taught before and find it very rewarding. When I see one of my swimming students passing the deep-end test after completing my class, I get a sense of pride because I just helped this child achieve something that is a big deal to most kids. Not only do the children like to have bragging rights, but I have also helped to make the environment safer for them.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
This past summer, I was one of the instructors who helped a boy who started off as a red necklace (non-swimmer afraid of the water) transition into a yellow and then green necklace (passed deep-end test). In less than three months, we had managed to drastically change this boy’s outlook and ability in swimming. This stands out because I have never seen this happen before.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
This scholarship means a chance to worry about my teaching instead of my loans. Now I can concentrate on my future students and help them to be the best that they can be.
