NC STEP Profile: My Journey Into Education

[This post is the fourth in a series featuring the eight teacher interns in the 2012-13 cohort for NC STEP — the North Carolina STEM Teacher Education Program, an initiative of NC New Schools. These eight interns will complete the program this summer and are seeking teaching positions in North Carolina public schools for fall 2013.]

When I heard about the NC STEP internship, I was actually in the process of gathering information from local colleges regarding the addition of a teaching certificate to my mathematics degree. After receiving additional information, I quickly sent in an application to participate in the program. The journey I have taken since that decision has been both enlightening and amazing.

I have a degree in mathematics from UNC-Wilmington and experience in business management, financial advising and coaching college volleyball. I have also tutored individuals and small groups in mathematics from elementary math to college calculus. When working with students, they often say to me, “That’s all there is to this? You missed your calling. You should be teaching!”

Through this program, I have developed the skills necessary to help deepen my students understanding. I have learned how to facilitate their thought process through questioning and encouraging each individual student to struggle to investigate for answers. I try to motivate students to develop their own thoughts, ideas and perspectives to help them better understand existing material and encourage them to be forward thinkers and seek answers for questions they can only imagine now. I hope to continue to have each student read, write, think and talk every day in my classroom.

I am dedicated to continuing to improve as a high school math teacher, instructional coach and motivator. I hope to instill in my students a true desire to continue to learn throughout their lives and help them develop the skills and positive attitude needed to succeed in college, their career and life.