Rudy Hanley Scholarship: Rebecca Fent

Master of Arts in Teaching Multiple Subject Candidate Rebecca Fent has been awarded the 2017-2018 Rudy Hanley Scholarship, presented by Mr. Hanley on November 7, 2017.

​About Rebecca Fent

​I have always loved to learn, and as an extension of that, I have always loved to teach people about what I have learned. While I was pursuing my undergraduate degree in Biology, I became aware of the fact that there is a lack of highly trained science educators in the United States. At the time I realized this, I had not decided yet on teaching becoming my career path, but learning about the lack of experienced science educators was an idea that really bothered me and stuck with me. 

During my undergraduate I was a Teacher’s Assistant for Zoology and Environmental Biology, I also tutored on the side. When I graduated, I began working for a few different nonprofits in informal science education. Through the last few years I recognized that what I really loved to do was teach. However, I wasn’t yet sure about going back to school to get teaching credentials because I was torn between my love of teaching science and my love of teaching elementary aged students. Due to this rift, I didn’t really know what I would go back to school for as far as multiple subject or single subject, if I did go back to school for teaching credentials. 

In my most recent job, I had the opportunity to travel to and teach informal science lessons at several different elementary schools across LA county. During this time, I learned two things. First, I discovered the option of specialist positions like science curriculum specialist where you can teach only science but at the elementary school level. And second, even with that option available, I discovered that teaching elementary school is definitely what I want to do as a career, whether or not I end up in a science specialist position or as a traditional classroom teacher. My goal as of right now is to pursue a science specialist position, but I have come to realize that I really do love to teach all subjects, not just science, and so I know that I would be fulfilled by a career in any elementary school teaching position. 

I hope that wherever I end up, I am able to instill a love for science, and a love for learning in general in each and every one of my future students.