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TCNJ Noyce Scholars

TCNJ Noyce Scholars (graduation year)

Return to: Noyce Physics Teacher Scholarship Program  TCNJ Noyce Faculty Profiles

CarriEve Horna (2017) 
Background:
  I am from Ridgewood, NJ, and am currently teaching in Freehold Regional High School District at Howell High School. I am teaching 11th and 12th grade as a Lab Physics (CP) and AP Physics 2 teacher. I enjoy playing rugby during non-pandemic times and am 100% a dog mom. I have two dogs, a 5 year old and 7 month old, so this is who I spend most of my free time with!
Why do you want to teach?  I enjoy speaking with people, especially younger people, about physics. Additionally, being able to help students grow, whether it’s through their understanding of physics or being better equipped to handle life’s challenges, has given me incredible purpose.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
There are lots of little moments, but one that I always will remember is during student teaching when I had to tell the same student two things.
1. No, your eyes are not stronger than the sun. Don’t stare into the sun.
2. Please don’t juggle those screwdrivers. Yes, I understand you can do it but don’t do it here.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The scholarship money has helped me with my student loans, which is not a small feat. It also has given me a head start on my career. Having the support system and resources of the professors/faculty involved with Noyce has been a huge help to me. I also appreciate the NJ-PTAG (New Jersey Physics Teacher Advisory Group) meetings that the Noyce Program has facilitated. It has allowed me to engage with other physics teachers, and since we’re a rare breed, it’s nice to meet and collaborate with others!

Noah Marks (2018)
Background:  
I’m from the Pittsburgh area; I attended the University of Pittsburgh where I majored in physics.  Afterwards, I completed my MAT at TCNJ.  I currently teach AP Physics 1, College Prep Physics, and Environmental Science.  I teach a mix of grades, with a lot of juniors.  I think I do a good job of connecting with students and developing rapport with them throughout a school year.
 Why do you want to teach?
1.  It’s a public good! Teaching can play a role in helping shape people’s outlooks and attitudes towards new ideas and other people.
2.  It’s dynamic. I like moving around (not so much now but still), talking with others, and coming up with ideas.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
I remember I asked a student to act out a problem for kinematics and she did an eerily spot-on impression of me! She implemented a lot of hand movements and weird phrases that I use. It was fun and showcased a kind of environment I want to cultivate in class. Class would be welcoming and students should feel confident.
What does the Noyce program mean to you? 
I appreciate the opportunity it gave me to pursue teaching. I may not have gotten into the field without TCNJ and Noyce reaching out and presenting the benefits that they did.

Nicholas Naumann (2018)
Background:
  I’m originally from Phillipsburg, NJ and am currently teaching at Belvidere High School in Belvidere, NJ. I teach CP Physics, AP Physics 1 and AP Environmental Science to seniors and juniors. I’ve recently adopted the cutest little kitten, Luna, who is my world.
Why do you want to teach? I teach because I like to teach. I love the interactions I can have with my students, and watching them grow both academically and as a person throughout the year is extremely fulfilling.
Describe a memorable teaching moment.
For me, the most memorable moments are watching my classes work together to solve a difficult problem. The way they bounce ideas off of each other, beg me for a hint, and then ultimately decide to follow the “Golden Rules” (my step-by-step process to solve any problem) is a consistent process that makes me laugh every time. When they finally solve the problem there is a sense of relief, pride, and accomplishment that immediately fills the room.
What does the Noyce program mean to you? The Noyce program allowed me to finish school without needing to worry about a mountain of student debt. It also provides a strong support network so that I always know I will have help any time I need it.

Bryan Miner (2019)
Background: 
I grew up in Roxbury, NJ and am now teaching in Robbinsville where I teach Honors and CP physics. I love music and cars and try to inject them into the classroom as much as possible (without my students hating me too much).
Why do you want to teach?  I want to teach because I want to bring an appreciation of physics to students. Physics is generally seen as such a scary and difficult subject, and I want to make it approachable for everybody so that everyone can take away something positive from it.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
A very memorable experience I have is during one of the first true inquiry labs we completed last year. I had a student specifically say to me that she loved going through the process and actually doing the science to try and answer a question. This was something that truly energized me. Just knowing that my students were into what we were doing and saw value in solving a problem using physics felt like a great accomplishment.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  To me, Noyce is some of the best networking possible. It has given great opportunities to good friends of mine and has introduced me to many other teachers in the same situation as I. I always look forward to PTAG meetings as they connect teachers from all over the state and help us share some great ideas.

Carmen Carusone (2020)
Background: 
I’m from Marlton NJ, currently teaching at Madison High School in Madison NJ. Right now I’m teaching 9th grade Enriched Physics and AP Physics 2, which is mostly 10th graders. I’m also starting a video game and e-sports club at the school.
Why do you want to teach?  I want to teach because I really enjoy interacting with students and seeing them interact with content that I think is so exciting to teach and learn. Teaching also brings out the best version of myself and I want to chase that feeling.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.  By far my most memorable teaching experience was student teaching in Bangkok, Thailand for the first three months of my senior year of college. The students I had the opportunity to teach were truly remarkable and shaped me as a teacher so much in such a short amount of time. They left me with a parting gift that displayed how much my short stay impacted them and I hope they know that they impacted me equally, if not more. I’ll always remember them as my first group of students as a high school physics teacher.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program really set me up for success as a first year teacher both financially and academically. They gave me and are continuing to give me resources to develop as a teacher and I’m looking forward to giving back to the next generations of Noyce scholars.

Shannon Picklo
Background:
  I’m from Manalapan, NJ and went to Manalapan HS. My content area is Physics, and I am pursuing my MAT at TCNJ. For my master’s I have a concentration in special education, and I am considering going back for my master’s degree in sp. ed. I am super interested in teaching Middle School, which is where I have my placement this semester. I would also love to coach at whatever school I teach, because sports were such a big part of my life in school.
Why do you want to teach?  Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but since I was good at Math and Science in HS, I assumed my best path was to study engineering. After my first semester, I realized that I would never be happy working like that. I immediately switched to Physics and Secondary Ed, and have been so happy since.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
The start of my student teaching experience this semester has been my most memorable. Working with my students and watching their faces light up as they make connections to real-world phenomenon.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce Program has provided me with so many connections and opportunities. Being able to attend the Noyce Conference last year, meeting other teachers at the conference, and at PTAG have also helped me to think about how I can teach certain topics in the future.

Robert Wagner
Background: 
 I grew up in Medford, New Jersey where I attended Shawnee High School.  I earned my BS in Physics at TCNJ in May 2020, and I am currently working on my MAT in Urban Education. During the summers of 2019 and 2020 I participated in a fellowship through the STARS program at the SLAC laboratory at Stanford University.  Outside of the classroom, I enjoy surf fishing and hiking.
Why do you want to teach? 
 I want to teach so that I can help students better understand the world that they live in and how everything is inter-related.  As a teacher, my goal is to help students become more comfortable with physics and understand how it relates to their everyday life and the community that they live in.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.  Most memorable was going to different schools as part of the STEP-UP program and having my first opportunity to present physics demonstrations to students in a classroom.  It was great to see them suddenly “get” a concept. 
What does the Noyce program mean to you? 
 The Noyce program has supported me financially and professionally.  Through the program’s financial assistance I have been able to pursue a career as a physics teacher without the heavy burden of four years of student loans and future debt.  In addition, the professional support has been priceless as a result of the networking opportunities such as PTAG and New Jersey Science Convention, access to research experiences, and mentoring by knowledgeable and engaging professors.  The Noyce STEP-UP program experience convinced me that teaching physics was the right career path for me!

Alex Cafiero
Background:
  I’m from Farmingdale, NJ, and I went to Howell High School. Some fun facts about me: I love to run (I’m on the Cross Country and Track/Field team at TCNJ), I (occasionally) tell puns, I’m proficient in Spanish, and I was born on the exact same day that Red Hot Chili Pepper’s album, Californication and Smash Mouth’s “All Star” were released.
Why do you want to teach?  I want to teach because building relationships and serving as a role model are things that I value greatly. Much of this was inspired by my own teachers, and I want to do the same for my students as my teachers did for me. I also like how teaching can be interpreted and personalized in so many ways, and how the learning experience is unique to every classroom, teacher, and student, regardless of the subject.  As for physics specifically, I really enjoy the unique mix of problem solving and critical thinking that it offers, and can’t wait to foster and facilitate those ideas with my own students in the classroom.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
The Summer after my freshman year, I participated in STEP-UP (Summer Teaching Exploration Program for Undergraduate Physics). Up to that point, I wasn’t an ed major yet, but teaching was a possibility that I always had in the back of my mind.  I was presenting a demo one day, and after a  student answered one of my questions, I responded with a pun. The group of students that I was teaching erupted in laughter, and the one student who answered said, “You’re gonna be a great physics teacher.” While that might not sound like much, it meant the world to me, and to this day, I will always remember and credit that experience to wanting to become a teacher.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  If it weren’t for Noyce, I might not even be teaching! STEP-UP was a fantastic way to see if I was interested in teaching physics by providing quality practice in the classroom that most ed majors won’t get to experience until their Junior or Senior year, with virtually no risk. That opportunity alone really helped me make that decision, and once I did make that decision, Noyce provided me with extra resources and opportunities that not many teacher candidates are fortunate enough to have. This includes networking events via NJ-PTAG (New Jersey Physics Teacher Advisory Group), Q&A sessions with teachers who are relatively new to the field, and much more. Noyce has shaped a majority of my teaching experience at TCNJ, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a Noyce scholar.

Marianna Carella
Background:  I was born and raised in Hamilton, New Jersey and attended Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Upon graduation, I chose to attend The College of New Jersey to study Physics and Secondary Education. While studying at TCNJ, I decided to begin a five year track to receive my Masters in Urban Education. At TCNJ, I am a Bonner Community Scholar, completing a minimum of 300 hours of community service each school year as an after school teacher in Trenton. I am also a member of Kappa Delta sorority and Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity.
Why do you want to teach?  Growing up, I was fortunate enough to have an abundance of educational opportunities, but it never came easy for me. I faced several challenges in comparison to my peers as I was diagnosed with specific learning differences. As my education furthered and these difficulties increased, I developed a stern disinterest in school. It was not until my high school physics class that my perspective of school was altered. As I gained a passion for the subject, I overcame fears and anxieties about school and started thoroughly enjoying learning, which set off a major chain of events in my life. Physics is what made me want to go to college! I am studying Physics and secondary urban education, so that I can help students find their potential.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
I think some of my most memorable teaching experiences have been while working as an after school teacher with third grade students. As a Secondary Education major I was initially very nervous to enter an elementary school, but I was able to successfully apply what I have been learning in school to run my classroom successfully. Specifically, seeing my students excited to enter our class and helping certain concepts ‘click’ with them have been some of my favorite teaching memories.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program has not only given me the financial support needed to attend college, but has created a welcoming and supportive community at TCNJ for which I am extremely grateful.  I know that whatever my need, I can always turn to this community of both peers and faculty for support. Additionally, the Noyce program has provided me with an array of opportunities outside of the classroom. I have gained so much knowledge through meeting with TCNJ physics education graduates as well as many physics teachers throughout New Jersey.

Dylan Corbett
Background: 
I’m currently student teaching right by TCNJ, conveniently placed at Ewing High School with an incredible group of students. Originally, I’m from South Jersey but have found a home at TCNJ and in the Ewing community. Outside of teaching, my hobbies include performing arts such as musical theater.
Why do you want to teach?  Teaching is the only job for me that will never feel like a job. There is an innate human joy that we experience when we gain new knowledge and can share it with others we care about. Being able to facilitate that joy and simultaneously be a role model for the next generation would be a dream come true for me.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
My observational period of my Junior Field Experience allowed me to establish a relationship with the students before I actually began to teach them. Because of this, students were quick to open up to me and let me into their worlds. My favorite group of students would come in everyday and tell me all about their lives, and this was all before I even had the chance to teach them a single lesson. The discussion of the high school prom was brought up and they asked me if I could join them on the night of the event. Obviously I could not attend because of the professional barrier I had to establish, but there was a part of me that truly appreciated the fact that they wanted me there with them.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program, to me, is a reminder that there is hope for the future of science education. So easily we can get discouraged with the politics of education and how tedious it can be to jump through the hoops of science education. However, the Noyce Program is a reminder that science education is the path in life that I am most passionate about and will continue to be passionate about. The investment that the Noyce Program is willing to place in me is a reassuring comfort I carry with me as a young science teacher.

Elizabeth (Beth) Dry
Background: 
I’m from Branchburg, NJ where I attended Somerville High School. I am interested in music: I have sung with the NJ All-State Choir and have played trombone in TCNJ’s Concert Band. I am also interested in astronomy and regularly assist RVCC’s planetarium with shows and operating telescopes for the public.
Why do you want to teach?  I have tutored before and I really enjoy sharing what I know with others and getting them engaged in the subject. I also hope that I can pass on a fascination with physics and science to at least one student. Who knows, maybe I can inspire the next generation of scientists (and astronauts)!
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
I was working with a student in tutoring who was having a very difficult time understanding how the normal force worked. She had tried to work with her teacher, but the two had not been able to get the student to a point where she understood. She and I talked about the normal force and I showed her a few physical examples.  As we talked, she got excited. She was finally able to explain it back to me! We made sure she really got it by having her draw a few force diagrams and solve some homework problems. She was so happy because the problems now made sense to her. I will never forget hearing her explain the very thing she thought she’d never understand.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program means that I won’t be alone when I start teaching. I will have a large support system and many experienced people to turn to if I need help or advice. It means that I will be helping kids who might not otherwise get a good experience in science education. It also means I won’t be entering the “real” world with a ton of debt and worries. I am extraordinarily grateful to be a Noyce Scholar.

Kira Moebius
Background:
I went to Williamstown High School in Williamstown, NJ. My interests include astrophysics/astronomy, baking, sewing and watching scary movies.
Why do you want to teach?  I want to teach because I want to give students a welcoming introduction to physics and hopefully erase some of the stigma around the subject. I also know that there is a shortage of qualified physics teachers and I want to help fill the gaps in that area as well.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
In my junior year of high school, my physics teacher was beginning the unit on current and circuits, so he had the whole class stand holding hands and had the person on the end touch the Van de Graaff generator. Everybody felt the shock go through them and it was a really cool experience. We all came out of the lesson having a pretty decent conceptual understanding of current and how circuits would be built. That lesson proves that there is always a way to make a lesson interesting enough for everybody.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  To me, the Noyce program means opportunity. The path to becoming a teacher is not a very clear one and I need all the guidance I can get in order to successfully complete the process. The network of both resources and people that are available through the Noyce program are necessary for becoming the highly qualified teacher I want to be.

Cait Viggiano
Background:
  I graduated from Cherokee High school in Marlton, NJ. I am a physics and secondary urban education major. I am involved in theater production on campus. I love cooking and watching crime shows.
Why do you want to teach?  I want to teach because I want to instill the love and interest for Physics in other students, much like my high school physics teacher did for me. I also want to have a meaningful impact in the lives of others, and the most gratifying way to do that is through education!
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
Last summer, I participated in the STEP-UP (Summer Teaching Exploration Program for Undergraduate Physics) program offered at TCNJ. While performing experiments for middle and high schoolers, I finally began to feel confident and certain about my ability in teaching the subject. I couldn’t believe how natural and rewarding it was to evoke curiosity about physics from the students!
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  For me, the Noyce program was what helped me to decide to study physics education. I first heard about the program from my own teacher when I was in HS, which eventually led me to TCNJ and the major that I am in now.

Cynthia Reynolds
Background: 
I attended Bordentown Regional High School in New Jersey before completing a Physics BS with a Math Minor at TCNJ.  I am now working on my Urban Ed Masters at TCNJ. 
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
One of my most memorable teaching experiences was being able to help plan and execute a Thanksgiving Lunch for my ELL math students.
What does the Noyce program mean to you? 
It is an opportunity to encourage qualified physics teachers to enter the workforce. Not only will these teachers be qualified, they will be working at the schools which need them most. I think that it is an excellent opportunity to encourage physics teachers and help students.

John Askew
Background: 
I am from Flemington, New Jersey, graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in 2017 and attended Raritan Valley Community College for two years before transferring to TCNJ. In addition to studying physics education, I am minoring in math and would like to return to TCNJ after graduating to study special education. Outside of class, I enjoy drawing and painting, cooking, listening to unreasonable amounts of music, and going for walks.
Why do you want to teach? I would like to teach because it is something I enjoy doing. Through high school, and even up to now, I have found myself tutoring other students, albeit in a very informal capacity, and have always gotten satisfaction out of the evident growth of my classmates. I hadn’t fully considered teaching, though, until my precalculus teacher, Mr. Q, expressed that “I haven’t done my job, unless you guys do better than me”, as if to say his job wasn’t done until the class exceeded his expectations.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program is an opportunity to meet that expectation of Mr. Q’s and explore more of the world of science education. Most importantly though, it introduces students to the sciences who may have not been so otherwise and helps in improving the education offered by underprivileged schools.

Katherine Ely
Background: 
I am from East Brunswick, New Jersey, where I attended East Brunswick High School.  I graduated in 2018, and came to TCNJ to study physics and secondary education.  I love music and singing, and I am part of the TCNJ all-female acapella group, the Treblemakers.  I am learning Spanish at TCNJ, in which I hope to minor, and I love scary stories, fantasy, watching movies, and of course, physics.
Why do you want to teach?  I wanted to teach ever since I was in elementary school and I had looked up to my teachers as role models.  As I became older and had more opportunities to practice and learn about teaching, I learned how important it is to be a good physics teacher.
Describe a memorable teaching experience. 
In high school, I enrolled in a child development class, in which my peers and I taught preschool-age children.  I planned a day of space-related activities, and I remember the students’ fascination and interest in the subject, and how excited they were to tell their parents about what they learned when they were picked up.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?  The Noyce program has provided me with many opportunities, and I am so grateful for it.  It is making it possible for me to study my passion with ease at TCNJ, and I am so fortunate for that.

Elizabeth Parisi
Background: 
I am from North Jersey and the Bergen County area. I attended Pascack Valley High School and graduated in 2018. I was on the tennis team in high school and still continue to play during my free time. Throughout the summer, I teach tennis lessons to all age groups and levels. Also, I enjoy exercising and staying healthy. During my spare time, I love to read books. My favorite genres include science fiction, mysteries, and young adult fiction.
Why do you want to teach?  Since a young age, I always wanted to be a science teacher. Being a part of the TCNJ Physics and Secondary Education Program is fulfilling a childhood dream. I am so excited to help students learn and find passions of their own.
Describe a memorable teaching experience.
For me, a few memorable teaching experiences are the tennis lessons I taught over the summer and the tutoring experience during my practicum. These opportunities helped me grow as a future teacher. The lessons and tutoring sessions provided insight on what it is like to teach something new or be able to break down a concept. Although I am still learning about the skills needed to be a teacher, I believe that this experience was a starting point to learning what type of teacher I want to be.
What does the Noyce program mean to you?
I believe that the Noyce Program provides future teachers with the opportunity to gain a new perspective within the field of teaching. As a Noyce Scholar, I am able to expand my teaching techniques and ability to connect with other future and current educators.

Contact

Physics Department
Science Complex, Room P123
The College of New Jersey
P.O. Box 7718
2000 Pennington Rd.
Ewing, NJ 08628

609.771.2569

physics@tcnj.edu

Department Office

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