Noyce Scholar Profile
Cheree Vaughn
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Organic Chemistry
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Chemistry, 10th grade
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
Kennesaw State University IIMPACT
Current academic or teaching status:
8 years teaching
School and school district:
Paulding County High School, Paulding
Background:
B.S. Chemistry – GSU
M.S. Organic Chemistry – GSU
Ed.S. Teaching and Learning – Piedmont College
I worked in the research field from 2001-2005 before I became a teacher via the GaTAPP program. I am AP certified in Chemistry and am Gifted endorsed.
Why do you want to teach:
I love “playing” in the lab with my students, and igniting a fire in them for science. Curiosity is often ignored in the classroom as opposed to being celebrated and nurtured. I want to influence kids and help them become successful adults. I want to make an impact on their lives.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I’m not sure if this is supposed to be an experience I had as a student or as a teacher, so I will answer as a student: I was in an Organic Chem lab and made several chalcones, which were all multi-step syntheses resulting in colorful, fluffy crystals. I then had to characterize them for identification and purity. The idea that I had actually followed some vague procedures then saw the fruit of my labor in my own hands was addicting. I was hooked on synthesizing compounds and using the HNMR machine! This stands out to me because I was allowed to be independent (student-centered lab with the instructor as a facilitator only), I had to problem-solve (and I love to tackle problems), it was fairly open-ended (we chose which compounds to synthesize from a list), and it was hands-on.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
I feel a sense of awe being a part of such a talented group of teachers and instructors! I realize that my calling reaches beyond just me and my classroom. I now feel the urge to share my ideas and strengths with others, and glean things from them to better myself, my school and my colleagues. It’s like we’re superheros in training to save our profession!
