Noyce Scholar Profile
Mary Ann White
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Integrated Math, grades 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Wittenberg University
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior (2013)
School and school district:
N/A
Background:
I am a math major and Education minor from Indianapolis, IN. I am involved in many activities on campus and in the community. I play women’s lacrosse, am a member and the social chair of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. I am a member of the Class of 2015 class cabinet and SAAC, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. I am also a Peer Helper, tour guide in the Admissions Office and a tutor in the Math Workshop. I volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Springfield. Over Christmas break 2012, I went to Lesotho, Africa to do service.
Why do you want to teach:
I want to teach because I love helping students learn and understand. There is nothing better than seeing students grow and become confident and excited to learn. I love kids and want to share my passion for learning while encouraging them to reach their goals. I have had some great teachers who have made me realize my talents or pushed me to do my best. I want to be that support and help in my students’ lives.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
Last year, for one of my education classes, I tutored in a fourth grade classroom at Lincoln Elementary. I had the same girl every week, and we worked on spelling words and reading comprehension. As the weeks passed, her reading comprehension improved greatly as did her spelling. During my last session, she was reading aloud much better and she understood the story and the questions without me prompting responses. As a teacher, the best moment is when you see the lightbulb turn on, and the student is so excited that they finally understand.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program gives me the opportunity to share my passion with students who may not normally get the attention and support they need and allows me grow and learn from them professionally and personally.
