Noyce Scholar Profile
Chris Witthaus
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Chemical Engineering
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: High School Science
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Master Teaching Fellow
Name of Noyce institution:
University of Missouri SMAR2T
Current academic or teaching status:
First Year Teacher
School and school district:
Francis Howell North High School
Background:
I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Missouri. After a year as working as a paraprofessional in my home school district and then working as an engineer in the biofuels industry, I went back to school to get my teaching certificate.
Why do you want to teach:
I studied engineering is school because it challenged me. I also wanted to help the world around me. After getting a view of helping in a school or in a factory, I realized that I liked it better when I got to see the results of what I was doing. This was helping students learn and gain an interest in science.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
When I first starting working as a para, I had to help a student study for a test. The student usually got F’s on their test. After working with them, I was able to motivate them and get them ready for the test, and the student got an A.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Program has meant that the door has been opened for me to pursue my teaching certificate without having to worry about how I could pay for it.
