Transitioning Math Majors into Teaching
The Noyce Scholarship Program: Transitioning Math Majors into Teaching (TMMT) is funded by the National Science Foundation and is a collaboration between California State University, Fullerton, Santa Ana College, and local school districts.
The program is designed to encourage talented mathematics majors to become highly qualified secondary school mathematics teachers. Santa Ana College and Cal State Fullerton will identify selected students to become Noyce Associates within this program during the freshman and sophomore years in preparation to become Noyce Scholars during the junior, senior, and credential years at Cal State Fullerton.
TMMT Principal Investigators
Dr. David Pagni, Mathematics
Dr. Pagni is interested in research and professional development related to the preparation of mathematics teachers for grades K-12.
Dr. Patrice Waller, Education
Dr. Patrice Parker Waller is an Assistant Professor of Secondary Mathematics Education. Dr. Waller coordinates that Foundational Level Math program housed in the Department of Secondary Education in the College of Education. She previously taught secondary mathematics in North Carolina. Dr. Waller’s research interests include teaching and learning mathematics abroad, culturally relevant teaching, and mathematics pre-service and in-service teacher development. Dr. Waller has travelled to several countries, including Brazil, South Africa, Morocco, and Ghana, to explore the teaching of mathematics and to examine instances of mathematics embedded in various cultures.
Email: dpagni@fullerton.edu
Phone: (657)-278-2671
Email: pwaller@fullerton.edu
Phone: (657)-278-7037
Dr. Cherie Ichinose, Mathematics
Dr Ichinose is an associate mathematics professor at California State University Fullerton and the 2018 Carol Barnes Recipient for Excellence in teaching. Dr Ichinose’ research surrounds online learning and the ‘flipped’ classroom pedagogy. Dr. Ichinose has participated and presented system-wide through the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) meetings, Summer Learning Institutes and meetings with Presidents and Trustees. She has led numerous presentations at conferences both locally and nationally, including National Council of Teacher of Mathematics and Sloan-C Emerging Technologies for Online learning. Her dissertation, Learning Mathematics in the 21st century: High school students’ interactions while learning mathematics online she showed the power of synchronous learning spaces when learning mathematics online.
Santa Ana College Partners
Kyle Bradley
Email: bradley_kyle@sac.edu
Dr. Martin Romero
Email: romero_martin@sac.edu
Dr. Christa Solheid
Email: Solheid_Christa@sac.edu
Email: cichinose@fullerton.edu
Phone: (657) 278-7637
2019-2020 TMMT Scholars
Maroun Nehme
Maroun earned his Bachelor of Arts in teaching mathematics from CSUF in 2003. However, he did not pursue teaching right away. After a 2-year break from school, and while working full time, he earned his MBA from CSUF in 2008. He was also the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony. Although Maroun wasn’t working in the field of Mathematics, his love of the subject eventually led him back to pursuing a teaching career in math. Furthermore, he was highly encouraged to do so by the students he has tutored over the last five years. He is currently in his first semester of student teaching, and he hopes to help students understand and enjoy math rather than fear it. In his free time, Maroun enjoys going on road trips, exploring, and hiking in National Parks with his family.
Jorgelina Razzari
Jorgelina completed a Bachelors in Mathematics at CSUF with a concentration in Math Education. She is currently pursuing a credential in secondary math education with the hopes of becoming a high school math teacher. Her passion lies in students and finding ways to teach them how to enjoy math. She is looking forward to eventually pursuing a master’s in math education and taking advantage of all the career development CSUF has to offer teachers.
Megan Tanielu
In under four years, Megan graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a concentration in teaching from Cal State Fullerton. Additionally, she is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society and is the Fall 2018/Spring 2019 recipient of The Rose Klein Algebra & Probability for the Secondary Teacher Award. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as an AVID Tutor at North Park Academy of the Arts for almost three years, which only reaffirmed her passion for teaching. Megan is continuing her educational journey in the Cal State Fullerton Single Subject Credential Program to become a math teacher. In her free time, she loves to travel, hangout with friends and family, stay active, go to the movies, and take on creative projects. Megan is truly excited and honored to be a TMMT Scholar, which provides her with opportunities to share her experiences as a teacher candidate as well as grow to become a better teacher.
Benefits and Obligations of the Noyce Scholarship Program for Scholars
- Noyce scholars receive up to $10,000 per year for up to 3 years (junior, senior, and credential years.)
- Co-teach in the Apprentice Program
- Receive subject specific academic and pedagogical advising and mentoring
- Participate in monthly seminars, in-person and online
- Work as a teacher for two years for each year of the scholarship
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- At most 90 units to graduation
- Full time enrollment (12 units) in a program of courses appropriate for attaining the SMPP or CSET in Mathematics
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA
- Strong interest in teaching as a career
- Potential to be a highly effective teacher in a diverse public school setting
- Must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Must submit a FAFSA application annually and have demonstrated financial need
Benefits and Obligations of the Noyce Scholarship Program for Noyce Associates
- Noyce associates receive up to $1,500 per year for up to 2 years (freshman and sophomore years)
- Gradual Induction into the Apprentice Program
- Receive subject specific academic and pedagogical advising and mentoring
- Placement in a 6-12 teaching setting with identified master teacher
- Participate in monthly seminars, in-person and online
- Network with SAC and CSUF mathematics faculty and future math teachers
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
- Currently enrolled at CSUF with a math major or plan to pass the CSET examinations for math
- Full time enrollment (12 units) in a program of courses appropriate for attaining the SMPP or CSET in Mathematics
- Minimum 3.0 overall GPA
- Strong interest in teaching as a career
- Potential to be a highly effective teacher in a diverse public school setting
- Must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Must submit a FAFSA application annually and have demonstrated financial need
Application Requirements
- Completed Application form
- Unofficial transcript(s) from CSUF and any past institutions you have attended
- Three letters of recommendation (One Letter for Associates)
- Please write a maximum one-page, 12 point font, essay in which you address the following
- Why you want to become a secondary school mathematics teacher
- Why you should be considered for the scholarship. Include a description of the specific knowledge, skills, and dispositional attributes that you bring to the teaching profession. You may also include any anecdotal experiences that have attracted you toward pursuing a career in teaching
- Your expectations from the Noyce Scholarship program
- Any additional information you wish the Noyce Selection Committee to know about you
- A copy of your FAFSA Application
For more information contact Dr. Cherie Ichinose at cichinose@fullerton.edu. Please make sure to include TMMT in the subject line.
