Noyce Scholar Profile
Russell Williams
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Secondary Education in Physics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Physics, grades 7-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
Wittenberg University
Current academic or teaching status:
Junior in Undergraduate Studies
School and school district:
Springfield (Clark County), OH
Background:
I am from Apple Valley, a lake community in Howard, Ohio near Mount Vernon. I attended East Knox Local Schools from kindergarten to senior year.
Why do you want to teach:
I have always had a passion for education. A passion I had first for educating myself, which lead to a passion for explaining my knowledge to others. My school system often left me academically unchallenged so I took it upon myself to learn what I wanted to learn--everything I could about the world around me and how it worked. The passion for science came from a great teacher I had in elementary school and since then I’ve been blessed with a few teachers who really made an impact, who could challenge me to think outside the box. Reflecting on the teachers and mentors who have made me who I am, I realized exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I want to make it my mission to engage kids in active lifelong learning and help them reach their full potential.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A great moment for me was when I made a joke in my classroom and everyone laughed. I thought, “Was that okay? Should I be some stone cold leader who doesn’t make jokes?” and I looked around the room and answered myself, “No”. I love having an open classroom where I can connect to my students on a variety of levels. I think openness and humor are a great way to get kids excited to come to class, which is the first step to be excited about learning.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program means that I will stay true to my goals. It is common to go into teaching with ideals that soon get forgotten when the stress of teaching takes its toll. I’m happy to be committed to a program where experienced teachers are ready to help and encourage me through difficult times and keep me on the path to becoming a highly effective teacher.
