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Aarthi Vadhanamam

Aarthi Vadahanan - 722x960-96Program

Master of Teaching in Mathematics Education

Undergraduate major

Completed my BS in Mathematics at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

Background

  • Minored in education during undergraduate; engaged in practicums and lesson/unit planning
  • Mathematics teacher for Summerbridge Louisville, an academic summer program for middle-school students from families of need, for two consecutive summers
  • Receptionist and substitute teacher for A Grade Ahead Louisville, a tutoring program, for two consecutive summers
  • Academic mentor for at-risk youth in Mérida, Yucatán, México, for one semester
  • Math tutor for Mathematics 110: Mathematics in Our Society at Centre College for one semester

Why do you want to teach?

Teaching is an incredibly demanding profession that is challenging, rigorous and rewarding — exactly what has attracted me to the career. I love that teaching involves an immense amount of lifelong learning — about our subject material, our students and our methods.

Please tell us about a memorable teaching experience and why it stands out in your mind.

During my first summer working with Summerbridge Louisville, I was very new to classroom management and lesson planning. I signed on to teach 1.5 hours of math each weekday to a group of 7-8 students for a total of 6 weeks; I had to write my own lessons and be accountable for everything that took place in my classroom. During the first few days, I had a student who I was simply not able to reach; when she was confused about a concept, she would immediately shut down and disengage from class. Over the next couple of weeks, I was able to develop a relationship with her and figure out how to better scaffold her in class and adjust my teaching. For the remainder of the program, she was a star student who actively participated in class and performed incredibly well on all assignments. At the end of the program, she demonstrated the most growth out of all my students! My role in and witness of her growth was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, which I hope to replicate many times over in my formal teaching career.

What has the Noyce program meant to you?

The Noyce program has allowed me to begin my goal of engaging in social justice through education. When I was three, my parents and I migrated to America in pursuit of a better life with more opportunities. Due to my parents’ educational levels and our middle-class income, we have been able to achieve our American dream. However, with increasing time, education and attention to politics, I came to realize that for many Americans — especially those from minority communities and the lower ranks of the socioeconomic ladder — the American dream has become increasingly more elusive. Even though we like to envision America as the place where anyone and everyone can improve their life a lot, the infrastructure to enable this is simply inadequate. While education alone cannot solve the increasing inequality in America, it is a crucial part of remediating the damage. My passion for both social justice and education has led me to the realization that my role in helping to even the playing field in America could be teaching in an urban, high-needs setting, and led me to Noyce.