Two Oahu elementary teachers known for their hands-on lessons were surprised and honored Thursday with 2016-17 Milken Educator Awards, a national honor that recognizes outstanding excellence in education and comes with a $25,000 cash prize.
Masaru Uchino, a third-grade teacher at Momilani Elementary School in Pearl City, and Kelly Sutcliffe, a fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary in Waikiki, impressed the Milken Family Foundation with their classroom achievements in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.
Uchino, who worked for an automotive racing parts manufacturer before becoming a teacher, makes learning fun through hands-on science experiments and using technology such as video podcasts, blogs and music in the classroom, his award evaluators said.
During a two-week summer science camp, for example, his students designed and built boats powered by rubber bands. Last year he developed a lesson for students to design a light maze using the concepts of reflection, refraction, angles and area. The lesson has been recommended by the National Science Teachers Association for inclusion in its Next Generation Science Standards curriculum.
Sutcliffe also is credited with using a hands-on approach to help her students solve real-world problems.
For a lesson on climate change and rising temperatures, for example, she had students design and build portable air conditioners using low-cost materials such as foam coolers, PVC pipes and ice cubes, and test the effectiveness of each design. She also incorporated the school’s worm-composting center into her science classes.
Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said both teachers “are examples of how innovative lessons can spark a student’s passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).”
At schoolwide assemblies at their respective schools Thursday, Uchino and Sutcliffe learned they had won the Milken award from philanthropist Lowell Milken, founder of the award, who traveled from Los Angeles for the announcements.
“Working in international business before education, Masaru Uchino appreciates the skills needed to compete in a fast-paced global economy,” Milken said. “Thanks to Masaru’s high level of preparation, his students are on a pathway to become the innovators and visionaries of the future.”
Of Sutcliffe, Milken said she “motivates her students to be the best you can be and achieve increasingly higher results. This performance-driven mindset imbues a sense of purpose and preparation for the challenges of the future.”
Both teachers, who have been teaching for 10 years, credit their students with making their jobs meaningful and enjoyable.
“It’s the kids. The kids keep it exciting,” Uchino, 38, said after the awards ceremony. “They definitely keep it interesting to where I want to come back and see them every day.”
His principal, Doreen Higa, said she recently asked Uchino how he would rate himself on a scale from 1 to 10.
“He said, ‘I will never be a 10 because I never stop learning and improving on my teaching techniques.’ … I think he is beyond a 10,” she said.
Sutcliffe said her students keep her motivated.
“I love it. The kids really keep me going,” Sutcliffe, 34, said after the event. “Just seeing them light up when you do a lesson that they’re excited about or seeing a student who’s struggling finally get something, you can’t put a dollar sign on it. It just makes it worth it.”
Uchino said he’s thinking about using his prize for his upcoming wedding, while Sutcliffe said she plans to save it and use it toward a future purchase, such as a trip or a house.
Up to 35 exemplary teachers will be surprised with Milken Educator Awards this school year. The awards alternate yearly between elementary and secondary educators. With Uchino and Sutcliffe included, 75 Hawaii educators have received the award and prizes totaling nearly $1.9 million since 1990.
